Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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301. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the nature of any work competency assessment in relation to the Fit for Work programme, including by whom such assessments will be carried out; the criteria for such assessments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17009/16]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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302. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe for the introduction of the Fit for Work programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17010/16]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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303. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the penalties or sanctions he will apply to persons who do not engage with the Fit for Work programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17011/16]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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304. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the Department or agency or private sector operator, that will have responsibility for the implementation of the Fit for Work programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17012/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 301 to 304, inclusive, together.

The recently agreed programme for a partnership government provides for a range of actions that are designed to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. One of these actions is a proposal for the Departments of Health and Social Protection to work together to pursue a “Fit for Work Programme” to support more people with an illness or disability to get back to work through early intervention.

The “Fit for Work” proposal is based on the findings of a pan European study, which examined the impact of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) on an individual’s ability to work. The Irish module of this study was progressed by a coalition of key stakeholders and was led by Arthritis Ireland. The Irish College of General Practitioners, ICTU, IBEC and the Health & Safety Authority also contributed to the study.

Early interventions and developing return to work practices in the case of people with musculoskeletal incapacities is consistent with my Department’s approach to illness/disability income support, which aims to reduce the number of people progressing to chronic disability and long-term social welfare dependency. To this end, my Department has in 2015, issued a set of certification guidelines for GPs, which sets out defined periods of recovery for common medical conditions, including MSDs.

The certification guidelines build on the “Renaissance project”, which is an initiative of my Department since 2003. This has shown that early intervention reduced the incidence of progression from the acute simple low back pain to chronic disability in 64% of claimants.

While specific proposals around the design and operation of a “Fit for Work Programme” require further development and scoping out so at this time it is not possible to answer all your question, I would like to assure the Deputy that any such proposals will be in line with the wealth of evidence which shows that generally employment is good for one’s mental and physical health and wellbeing and, conversely, that unemployment is damaging.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.