Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 798: To ask the Minister for Health his future plans to include Fibromyalgia as a recognised disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36826/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Minster does not classify specific medical illnesses or conditions as a disability. There are a number of definitions of disability that are used for particular purposes e.g. Disability Act, Education for Persons with Special Education Needs Act, Equal Status Act, the Census and qualifying criteria for income supports such as Domiciliary Care Allowance, Disability Allowance, Mobility Allowance etc. These definitions define disability in terms of an individual's functional ability in their environment rather than a medical diagnosis or condition.