asked the Minister for Transport the special provision his Department have made for the employment of disabled persons, and the proposals, if any, to increase the number.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment of Disabled Persons.
41.
My Department are represented on the inter-departmental committee set up by the Minister for Labour with a view to implementing a 3 per cent quota scheme for the employment of disabled persons in the public service. A number of disabled persons are already employed in the Department and the Department are examining the matter with a view to seeing how the 3 per cent quota can be met. Implementation will be effected in conjunction with the Civil Service Commissioners who are responsible for the recruitment of most of the staff of the Department. I am also asking the State bodies under my aegis to do what they can to implement the quota scheme.
What is the number of people described as disabled who are employed by CIE and what percentage of the work force do they constitute?
I do not have that information here.
The question would seem to be a separate one.
The Chair must not have heard me.
I will get the information from CIE and convey it to the Deputy.
The question asked for details of the special provisions the Department have made for the employment of disabled persons.
Is it reasonable to assume that no such provision has been made? There must be some information on the file in addition to the official answer.
The information here is that in excess of the 3 per cent quota of disabled persons is employed by CIE but I have not been given the specific number involved. These are people who have become disabled within the service but who have been kept in employment in CIE.
Although "Hall's Pictorial Weekly" has been taken off the air, we are getting prime script material out of this reply.
Has the Deputy a question?
Is the Minister trying to say on the one hand that the 3 per cent quota will be met while saying also that CIE have exceeded this figure?
I would remind the Deputy that CIE are only one of the semi-State agencies under my aegis and that all the bodies concerned are being asked to bring up to 3 per cent their employment quota of disabled persons. As soon as I receive information that this quota has been met in the various bodies, I shall be glad to communicate it to both Deputies opposite.