Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I find it extraordinary. This system has been in place for many years and people are suddenly starting to produce inadequate applications. When did this start? The Minister stated that in the last year of the previous Government - 2010 - there was a jump in refusals. Her letter dated 23 August states that in 2010, some 21,409 applications were received. The number of applications disallowed in that year was 10,316. We do not have to get out our calculators to know that is less than half, or 45%. Some 55% were successful. In 2011, however, the number of applications received was 24,264. The number of applications disallowed was 14,116, which is a 62% refusal rate and a 38% success rate. That is the difference between 2010 and 2011. I put that to the Minister again to correct her previous statement. As I said, according to the Minister's letter dated 23 August and signed by herself, there was a 45% refusal rate in 2010 and a 62% refusal rate in 2011.

Is it not untrue to say there is no change in the eligibility criteria? Do I not recall something in the social welfare part of last year's budget whereby instead of being substantially restricted, there must be a 15% measurable disability? Has that change not occurred? Perhaps that explains the increase in the refusal rate.

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