Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Going back to Deputy O'Dea's last comment, I think he is referring to the scheme I brought in after I became Minister of a partial disability payment which was long requested by disability organisations to allow people to go back to work. For instance, somebody might have a long-term condition from which he or she suffers periodically but he or she may wish to continue to work. I brought that in because I was very anxious to ensure that people who have a disability are facilitated in going back to work to the maximum extent. The figures the Deputy read out in regard to cases decided - I have the same figures here - indicated that the high point in regard to allowance rates was 49% in 2009. In 2010, it went down to 39% and it has stayed in and around that since then. I am reading out the statistics that have been given to me by the Department. All I can say is that the statistics are published by the Department. If the Deputy refuses to believe them-----

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