Brendan Ryan (Dublin North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Perhaps the Minister of State would quantify for us the level of the problem which the amendment seeks to address. He might also indicate the optimum number of assessors required, the number in place at peak, the shortfall in this regard and the extent of the current backlog. Also, would acceptance of this amendment allow for greater face-to-face engagement between Department officials and applicants rather than the current practice of desktop assessments? I know from the many constituents I have met over the years who have been refused benefits that people are frustrated that their applications are being refused based on desktop assessments which provide no real indication of the extent of their illness.