Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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41. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her Department's views on illness benefit and proposed changes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42548/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Recovery of Benefits and Assistance (RBA) scheme commenced on 1 August 2014 and requires that a compensator (generally an insurance company) must apply for a statement of recoverable benefits, before making a payment to an injured person in respect of a non-fatal personal injury.

Where there is a specified benefit paid within a specified period consequent on the personal injury, the compensator is liable to pay the Minister part or all of the recoverable benefit amount depending on whether the case is settled out of court, or the award is a result of a court order or Injuries Board assessment. It is the compensator and not the injured person who must pay the Minister.

I can assure the Deputy there is ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of the RBA scheme, and any possible changes to the scheme will be considered in the light of operational experience.