Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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34. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number and percentage of people with disabilities employed across his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department in each of the years 2020 to 2023; the number and percentage of people with disabilities employed across his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department in the corresponding timeframe that had full-time contracts; and the number and percentage of people with disabilities employed in his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 that had part-time contracts, in tabular form. [30956/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In compliance with Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005, the Department of Defence has undertaken, where practicable, to promote and support the employment of people with disabilities. The Department continues to operate in a non-discriminatory environment in accordance with the Equality Acts and aims to ensure that the principles of employment equality are implemented in recruitment, promotion, training and work experience.

The only State body under the aegis of the Department of Defence is the Army Pensions Board which is an independent statutory body established under the Army Pensions Act 1927. The only staff post is the secretary to the Board, which is provided from the staff of the Department.

In addition to Civil Servants, this Department also employs Civilian Staff at various military installations to support the work of the Defence Forces. The grades employed are spread across a wide spectrum and include Craft Workers, General Service Operatives, Administrative staff, Healthcare Professionals and other specialist grades.

The following table outlines those who have self-declared a disability, however, it should be noted that there is no onus on employees to declare a disability. As disability returns are anonymous, my Department is unable to provide a breakdown between those working a full attendance pattern or those availing of reduced attendance pattern schemes such as Worksharing or Shorter Working Year.