Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In the event of a person having this debilitating condition for more than a year, it is then obvious that the condition lasts for more than 12 months and is likely to continue for the next 12 months. There should not be a difficulty there. We will have to probe that with the Department of Social Protection. Generally, applications for the disability allowance and all payments other than benefits are awarded on appeal. Applications are refused initially and then appealed, which causes delays. In the meantime, the person affected by the condition has no income and no security.