Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

No; I will take into account what the Senator has said. I brought in the partial capacity benefit in February 2012. It had been talked about for a long time and is a very positive change in the social welfare system. It is the norm in social welfare legislation to provide for an appeals mechanism at a point where a decision is being made; therefore, that is the purpose of the provision. We have awarded just over 1,000 partial capacity benefit claims, of which 866 are at the moderate incapacity level, 147 are at the severe level and 13 at the profound level. When people at work develop a serious condition, for example, multiple sclerosis or cancer, once their condition has been stabilised, they may have periods of remission and the treatment may work well, they may wish to return to work. The partial capacity benefit system provides that opportunity because the fact that they have an incapacity arising from their illness is formally recognised such that if there is a recurrence, they are able to take time out and look to the Department of Social Protection to take account of their condition. That is a very positive development. I accept what the Senator said and will bear it in mind. It is very much in the developmental stage. As the numbers are small, we may be able to take into account her proposal.