Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Different organisations assess for different purposes. We discussed this point before. There is not a direct correlation between a specific disability and a person's ability to work. The scheme is based on ability to work. I gave the very simple example of one of our Oireachtas colleagues in the other House who has a very obvious disability but who can perfectly perform his function as a Minister of State. There is no dispute about the medical issue but while his ability to work in that job is proven, the ability of a person with the same physical disability to work as a plasterer or a blocklayer or in some other manual job would be very different. Therefore, the Department measures a person's ability to work. We must keep it that way because this is the basis for the payment.

The capacity assessment process will represent an extension and development of the existing medical assessments which determine entitlement to invalidity pension and illness benefit. The medical protocols which will underpin the capacity assessment will draw on best international practice and are being developed in accordance with established evidence-based disability evaluation protocols and will be set out in regulations. The medical assessors in my Department will also have specific training provided for the undertaking of capacity assessments in order to ensure that a consistent approach is taken to the key element of the scheme.

It is not possible to do this other than by assessment of a person in the context of his or her work, education, training and so on and his or her capacity to work. This will be done in a professional manner to the highest standards. I look forward to the chief medical officer of my Department being invited to the Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs to talk about the issue of medical assessment for the domiciliary care allowance or for partial capacity. I have been very impressed with his approach, as I think have most Members, to how the system processes these assessments. He has made it clear to me that he is more than willing to discuss these issues with the committee. We need to have a good process in place but we also need to satisfy the Members of the House that a good process is in place which is well thought-out and which conforms with best international practice.