Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy has raised an interesting point. He may be frustrated with the scheme but one of its great flexible points is that if one makes an application for something that requires a medical assessor's opinion, we allow the application to be continually subject to review through the input of additional information. The alternative would be to use a flat system of rejection, not allow a review and instead go to appeal. That would have a much less satisfactory outcome for clients who are using the system. We allow appeals, as the Deputy knows. From time to time one meets people who say they applied for something which was refused. With the Deputy's skills, expertise and knowledge, however, he can examine the application and judge whether the medical evidence submitted is strong enough to warrant whatever payment or other request is made. Allowing the review is an important part of the scheme because it permits people to put in more pertinent, up-to-date and stronger medical evidence which in turn will assist them with their applications.

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