Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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43. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to allow for an accumulation of sick days to make up the six days needed to qualify for illness benefit for persons with long-term illnesses or receiving treatment for cancer, whereby they may be off sick four days on a repeat cycle, depending on their illness and consequent treatment (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17043/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Generally, a person is not entitled to illness benefit (IB) for the first six days of any period of incapacity for work. These are called "waiting days" and Sunday is not counted as a waiting day.

However, where not more than three days have elapsed since a previous claim for IB, no waiting days apply and payment is made from the first day of the new claim.

There is currently no provision for payment of IB in the type of circumstance outlined in the question whereby a person is absent from work for short periods (less than 6 days) on a regular basis of more than 3 days since the last absence from work.