Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 1298: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if sufferers of thyroid disorder/disease qualify for disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30236/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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A person suffering from thyroid disorder/disease may qualify for disability allowance depending on the circumstances of their particular case. Disability allowance is a social assistance payment made to people whose employment capacity is substantially restricted because of a disability and whose income falls below certain limits. Entitlement to the allowance is subject to the person satisfying both a means test and the medical eligibility criteria that apply and these are prescribed in legislation.

The medical criteria which must be satisfied in order to qualify for Disability Allowance are the person must be suffering from an injury, disease, congenital deformity or physical or mental illness or defect which has continued or may reasonably be expected to continue for a period of at least a year, and as a result of the condition the person is substantially handicapped in undertaking work which would otherwise be suitable having regard to the person's age, experience and qualifications. When a person makes a claim for disability allowance an opinion regarding their medical condition is firstly provided by the person's own general practitioner. Where required, a second opinion is provided by a medical assessor employed by the Department. In certain instances medical examinations will be undertaken. The medical assessor will have available to him or her the initial medical diagnosis supplemented, where appropriate, by relevant specialist and other reports. Any information provided by the claimant is also taken into account.

Medical Assessors carry out medical assessments of clients in order to provide an independent medical opinion with regard to eligibility on medical grounds to various illness and disability-related benefits/allowances for the guidance of Deciding Officers. Under the provisions of the Social Welfare Acts, questions concerning claims for benefit are decided by Deciding Officers. However in relation to whether the medical criteria are satisfied they obtain the opinion of a medical assessor.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 1300: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will offer rent support to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30310/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 1301: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will offer rent support in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30311/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1300 and 1301 together.

Rent supplement is administered on behalf of the Department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive (HSE), as part of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. The HSE has advised that it has no record of an application for rent supplement from either of the persons concerned. They should contact the community welfare services directly in order to make an application for rent supplement.