David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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13. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of medical assessors currently employed by her Department; if the new panel of medical assessors has now been created; the number of persons on this panel; the number of additional medical assessors due to be recruited this year and expected start date of each; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18701/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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There are currently 23 Medical Assessors employed in my Department, including the Chief Medical Adviser and the Deputy Chief Medical Adviser. All of the staff in question serve on a full-time basis. In addition, and in view of the critical control role that Medical Assessors play in assessing and reviewing illness related claims, sanction was also given to appoint additional Medical Assessors to fill vacancies which will be due to arise in the near future as a result of retirements. A public competition, administered on behalf of my Department by the Public Appointments Service (PAS), was held in 2012. Fourteen people were placed on the panel that was established following completion of the competitive process.

To date six Medical Assessors have been appointed from this panel, three of whom took up duty in November 2012 and a further three in March of this year. Four of those placed on the panel have subsequently withdrawn from the process. My Department has continued to liaise with the PAS with a view to appointing the four remaining candidates at the earliest opportunity. In this regard, one offer of appointment has been issued, a further two are expected to issue shortly and clearance from the PAS is expected in relation to the last candidate in the coming days.

I place great emphasis on ensuring that all claims are processed and reviewed in a timely manner and I’m very pleased that the Department has been able to fill these critical vacancies and to frontload the appointment of additional Medical Assessors in advance of retirement thereby enabling the Department to deliver a quality service to our customers.