Our Access team works to enhance opportunities for students from underrepresented groups to access, participate in, and complete courses in SETU. We support students at all stages of their educational journey;
- Primary schools: Learning for Life Programme (homework club and activities on campus); Open Access Events- school tours and workshops
- Secondary schools: Campus tours, SETU Try Events, Maths tutorials, SETU Library programme
- Third level supports: HEAR; Reach programme, 1916 Bursary; Student Assistance Fund (SAF); Laptop loan scheme and volunteering opportunities
Staff Disability Census
Under the Disability Act 2005, each public organisation is obliged to collect and report data on the number and proportion of employees with disabilities in our organisation. We are aware that asking for such personal information is a sensitive issue even when assurance has been given that the information supplied will be kept confidential, for statistical purposes and is not linked to any other data.
This information is required so that it can be used by Government to influence national policy regarding the employment of people with disabilities. It is also required to measure how public bodies are performing against the national target that requires every public body to have at least 3% of their employees with disabilities in their workplace. The Government has committed to incrementally increasing the statutory target so that by 2024, public bodies must ensure that at least 6% of their employees are people with disabilities.
For these reasons the information sought by our organisation is incredibly important at a national level. Every employee who has a disability or who has acquired a disability therefore, should regard the Staff Surveys as an opportunity to influence policy direction.
It is essential that Ministers see the real number of people with disabilities employed by our organisation. It is essential, that they also see that someone with a disability can be an experienced and valued employee who is proof that the business case for employing people with disabilities works.
The Disability Census was disseminated to all staff in SETU Waterford and the percentages were returned to the National Disability Authority for the following years:
- In 2021, 3.7% of WIT staff reported that they had a disability.
- In 2020, 3.1% of WIT staff reported that they had a disability.
- In 2019, 3.16% of WIT staff reported that they had a disability.
SETU aims to increase the percentage of staff reporting to at least 6% by 2024.
If you are a staff member and you have any questions in relation to Disability please feel free to contact us at [email protected]
SETU Waterford, Cork Road, Waterford City, 
