Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

I thank the Deputy for his question. The number of people in receipt of the disability allowance has continued to increase significantly. In 2005, some 79,000 people were in receipt of disability allowance as compared with 102,000 in 2011, an increase of 1.7%. The number of awards has continued to rise. Medical evidence and diagnosis presented by a person's medical advisers and experts, be it a GP, consultant or specialist, is reviewed by the departmental medical assessors, who are qualified medical doctors. The test is in relation to the person's capacity to participate in work or some work.

I do not wish to comment on the particular case instanced by Deputy Halligan.

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