Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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361. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his Department’s policy on the disability equality training available for staff in the Civil Service; if this training includes information on reasonable accommodations and neurodiversity; if those in managerial roles are required to attend additional training on this subject; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33985/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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As outlined in my Department’s People Strategy, the Department is wholly committed to building a supportive and inclusive workplace.

My Department is a JAM Card friendly organisation since July 2024 with over 80% of staff having completed the JAM Card e-training and remains an ongoing initiative. In June last year, my Department also launched its first ED&I Strategy, which has a specific focus on providing equal opportunities for all staff, and on improving the culture of awareness around different needs in our workplace.

As part of the development of this Strategy, all members of our Management Board and all members of our ED&I Strategy Working Group undertook ‘Inclusive Leadership’ training with the Irish Centre for Diversity. Actions under our ED&I Strategy include bringing inclusive leadership and inclusive management training to all managers in our Department through OneLearning, and a commitment to continue our offering of ED&I related training and information sessions throughout the Strategy’s lifetime.

My Department’s Learning and Career Development Unit places a strong focus on disability awareness training and has facilitated several training sessions and webinars with organisations such as Ability Focus, Irish Centre for Diversity, AsIAm, ADHD Ireland, and Employers for Change amongst others; all of which presented segments on neurodiversity and reasonable accommodation. While attendance at same is optional, it is highly encouraged and promoted to all staff members regularly.

At present and on an ongoing basis, there are also several training sessions available on the Civil Service-wide OneLearning platform which is always accessible to staff members. Current offerings include:

• Equality and Human Rights: Understanding your Role
• Managing for an Inclusive Workforce
• Equality and Human Rights in the Public Service