Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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522. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for an invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; if she will reverse this decision and in future ensure all such decisions are transparent, so that citizens know the grounds on which they have been turned down. [34661/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Invalidity pension is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the contribution conditions. Medical eligibility for invalidity pension is determined by the severity and expected duration of the medical condition.

All medical assessments and medical reviews are undertaken by fully qualified medical practitioners who have experience and specialist training/qualifications in occupational medicine as well as in human disability evaluation. Desk assessments of eligibility are based on medical reports and other evidence furnished by the applicant and the applicant's treating physician. The assessment is made in accordance with the Department's evidence based medical guidelines and protocols. The medical assessor provides to the deciding officer a considered medical opinion on the evidence provided in support of the claim for his/her guidance.

The department received a claim for invalidity pension from the person concerned on 02 April 2013. The medical evidence provided by the claimant in support of her claim was examined by a medical assessor who was of the opinion, based on the evidence provided, that the person concerned does not satisfy the medical criteria for invalidity pension. The application for invalidity pension was disallowed by a deciding officer. The person in question was notified of this decision and the reason for it on 21 May 2013.

Further medical evidence was subsequently submitted by the claimant. This additional evidence, along with the original information, was evaluated by a different medical assessor who also expressed the opinion that the person concerned does not satisfy the medical criteria. The deciding officer confirmed the original decision and notified the claimant of the outcome on 12 July 2013, advising her of her right to appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.