John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an application for early retirement and lump sum will be expedited and approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22508/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Pension schemes generally make provision for the payment of benefit where a member retires because of a medical condition the nature of which makes him/her incapable of discharging the duties of the occupation and is likely to be permanent. Retirement on ill health grounds is a major decision that impacts both on the scheme member and the organisation. The award of pension in such circumstances must be grounded on a detailed assessment of the medical evidence in the case. To this end, the opinion/recommendation of an appropriately qualified medical adviser must be obtained. In this connection, where pension benefits are funded from monies provided directly or indirectly by the Oireachtas, the Minister has directed that the services of an Occupational Physician must be used by the organisation when assessing a scheme member's application for ill health retirement pension benefit.

The Occupational Physician, reviews the medical evidence, may conduct a medical examination of the member and then makes a recommendation outlining whether or not the member is incapable by reason of infirmity of mind or body of discharging his or her duties in the occupation and also whether or not that infirmity is likely to be permanent. The position in relation to the application for ill health retirement benefit by the person to whom the Deputy refers is that the assessment has been carried out and it has been determined that the person in question is not incapable by reason of infirmity of mind or body of body of discharging his/her duties. The person to whom the Deputy refers has been fully informed by the Pension Unit of my Department of the procedures in respect of ill health retirement applications and provided with information regarding the appeal process.