The Report on Compliance with Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 for 2022 is the seventeenth annual report by the National Disability Authority (NDA) on employment of persons with disabilities in the public sector. The NDA has a statutory role in monitoring the employment of persons with disabilities in the public sector, arising from Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005.

At the end of 2022, the total number of employees in the relevant public sector bodies was 260,434, an increase of 8,882 (+3.5%) from 2021.

In 2022, the NDA is pleased to note that for the first time the number of employees reporting a disability exceeded 4%. In 2022, the number of employees reporting a disability was 10,631 (4.1%), an increase of 1,620 (+18.0%) from the 2021 figure which was 9,011(3.6%).

Overall the public sector exceeded the minimum target of 3% for the twelfth successive year.

The NDA is also pleased to note that in 2022, 103 (48.4%) public bodies reported that a minimum of 6% of their employees were persons with disabilities. This is an increase from 2021, when 78 (36.6%) public bodies reported that a minimum of 6% of their employees reported a disability. The NDA acknowledges the progress public bodies have made in 2022. However, we continue to advise the public sector that further progress is required in order for the sector to achieve the minimum 4.5% target by 2024 and the minimum 6% target by 2025. Therefore more public bodies need to focus on implementing practical measures to achieve this objective as advised by the NDA. Read the full report