Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Illness benefit is certified by the applicant's own medical adviser who submits the certificate to the Department of Social Protection. The payment period of illness benefit was previously unlimited and somebody could have remained on illness benefit for an indefinite period provided he or she was certified under the medical system, with which most Members are familiar. That system was changed in 2010. This has resulted in a large increase in the numbers applying for payments under other medical related schemes. I am delighted Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett has conceded that the civil servants in the Department have worked hard to improve the system.

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