Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2026
568. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the specific recruitment initiatives that are being used to increase the employment of people with disabilities in the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12332/26]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation has policy responsibility for recruitment policy in the civil/public service. Publicjobs is a body under the aegis of that Department and is the primary recruiter for the civil service and some parts of the public service.
My Department collaborates with publicjobs on their inclusive pathways into employment for disabled people. As an example, their partnership with AHEAD on the Willing and Able Mentoring (WAM) Programme offers graduates with a disability a 10-month fully paid and mentored work placement in the civil service. We have participated in the WAM programme since 2007 and since the introduction of the permanent pathway 5 WAM graduates have progressed into permanent employment in my Department.
My Department has also participated in the Oireachtas Work Learning (OWL) programme and in 2022 had an OWL graduate commence employment in a permanent part-time position.
