Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 627: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the plight of a number of former miners in the Slieveardagh coalfields in north Tipperary who have suffered significant damage to their health arising from their employment; his views on the establishment of a compensation scheme for such miners similar to that operating in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14644/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The compensation scheme to which the Deputy refers is operated by the UK Department of Trade and Industry and is not part of the UK social security system. I understand that the scheme was put in place in response to that state's role as an employer. Prior to privatisation in the 1980s, virtually all coal mines in the UK were owned by the British Coal Corporation (BCC) and the State was in effect the employer. The UK Department of Trade and Industry assumed all the liabilities of the BCC in 1998 and has been operating compensation schemes for respiratory and other illnesses contracted by miners. Those schemes are now closed.

In Ireland disablement benefit, payable under the Occupational Injuries Benefit (OIB) scheme, is a compensation payment for loss of faculty arising out of or in the course of insurable employment. The legislation governing the OIB scheme provides entitlement to benefit for persons suffering from certain prescribed diseases which are listed in the legislation and where that person has contracted that disease in the course of their employment. Where a person has contracted one of the diseases listed in the legislation, benefits are payable if they were employed in an occupation which is specifically prescribed in relation to that disease. In addition, benefits may be payable if the claimant can show that the disease was contracted through an employment not specifically prescribed in relation to that disease.

Miners who contracted the prescribed disease pneumoconiosis are entitled to disablement benefit. Persons claiming OIB in cases of pneumoconiosis are referred to a Consultant Respiratory Physician in the first instance for an examination and report. This examination consists of a clinical assessment and pulmonary function testing. The latter is a standardised test that will establish the extent of lung malfunction irrespective of the specific medical condition giving rise to that malfunction. Disablement benefit is awarded on the basis of the consultant's objective report, including the Pulmonary Function Test results. There are currently 19 miners in receipt of disablement benefit in respect of pneumoconiosis, 7 of whom were former Ballingary/ Slieveardagh miners.