Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Department of Social Protection has been taking over an increasing number of schemes from the HSE. Many of those files, including DCA files, had review dates mandated on them when they arrived in my Department. After I became Minister I changed the review notification for the new DCA awards, but we have inherited mandated instructions on files from the Department of Health. We have been under pressure to do even more reviews of those from external interlocutors and reviewers. I put in place a revised structure for DCA in conjunction with intensive consultations with parents' organisations. If the Deputy is aware of such cases she will know people were very satisfied with the outcome.

I cannot explain why we are unsuccessful in getting more medical assessors. The people involved need occupational medical experience and qualifications and we have found it extremely difficult to get people to respond to the Public Appointments Service's recruitment drives.

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