Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 46: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her proposals in regard to the guidelines used by her Department in policy documents to prescribe disabilities (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23432/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The issue raised by the Deputy relates to the medical qualifying conditions associated with social welfare schemes and in particular the position of people within the deaf community as regards entitlement to Disability Allowance. Disability Allowance is a weekly payment made to persons who are substantially restricted by reason of their disability in undertaking work which would otherwise be suitable having regard to the person's age, experience and qualifications and whose means are insufficient to meet their own needs and those of their dependents.

The position is that, while the circumstances of individuals will vary and each application for Disability Allowance will be treated on its own merits, deafness or hearing impairment does not of itself constitute a condition which would automatically satisfy the medical qualifying conditions associated with the scheme.