Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of full time medical assessors are or have been employed by her Department to oversee illness scheme applications and appeals presently and each year for the past five years; the number of medical assessors that have been or are employed on a part time basis in this time; if there is scope to hire new assessors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12612/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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There are currently 25 Medical Assessors employed in my Department, including the Chief Medical Adviser and the Deputy Chief Medical Adviser. Of this number, 3 were appointed this week. All of the staff in question serve on a full-time basis.

A public competition was held to appoint additional Medical Assessors in 2012 and my Department is liaising with the Public Appointments Service with a view to appointing a further 5 Medical Assessors at the earliest opportunity.

The role of the Medical Assessor is essential in assessing and reviewing illness related claims. I am very pleased that the Department received sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to increase their number thereby enabling the Department to deliver a better service to our customers.

Details of the number of Medical Assessors serving in the Department in March in each of the past 5 years are shown in the table below: