Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

In the Department there is wide consultation with different groups on a continuous basis. We engage in consultation with people with disabilities and organisations that represent those with disabilities. At official level we frequently sit down with organisations to discuss how the structures work. I have received, on behalf of the Department, positive feedback from members of all parties represented in the House on the system for awarding invalidity pensions and, specifically, dealing with the backlog. Deputies have spoken privately and publicly on the floor of the House to thank staff in the Department for dealing with the backlog. I do not quite understand the point made. We inherited a difficult situation because of the explosion in the overall number of claims in respect of the vast number of people who became unemployed.

Medical assessments are carried out by qualified medical practitioners. It is based on what an individual's medical advisers have advised the medical assessor. When people make claims, they do not always bring forward all elements supporting the application. When assisting someone to make an application successfully, it is important that all of the medical information indicating why he or she should be awarded an invalidity pension be submitted as early as possible. The medical review and assessment service is the principal control mechanism for the illness and disability schemes administered by the Department. Medical assessors carry out desk assessments of medical evidence and reports which are supplied by clients. Where required, they conduct in-person assessments in order to provide a second medical opinion for the guidance of deciding and appeals officers. All assessments are carried out in accordance with the accepted guidelines of the Irish Medical Council.

It is very much dependent on the medical evidence, on the medical assessor assessing that evidence and then advising on how the application should be dealt with. The deciding officer has no capacity in the context of the technical, medical evidence submitted. The deciding officer gets advice from the medical assessor and makes his or her decision accordingly.

A lot of work has been done in recent years on the forms to make sure they are readable. We have taken on board advice on the use of plain English and on the style of the forms. We have made every effort to ensure that those filling out the forms or those assisting them are given accurate, up-to-date and complete information. That assists people in submitting their claims.