John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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300. To ask the Minister for Social Protection why spinal injuries are excluded from the list of long-term illnesses in the awarding of benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19367/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability (see below). Entitlement to these supports is not contingent on the nature of the illness but on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work. In all cases a deciding officer of my Department makes a decision based on all the available evidence including supporting medical evidence supplied by the applicant and taking into account the opinion of the Department’s Medical Assessor.

- Illness Benefit (IB) is an insurance based payment for those who are certified by a registered medical practitioner as being is unable to work due to illness. In legislation this day is defined as a "day of incapacity for work". In order to qualify a person must also satisfy the social insurance contribution conditions for the scheme.

- Invalidity Pension is an insurance based payment for those who are permanently incapable of work. In addition to satisfying the PRSI contribution conditions, a person must have been incapable of work for at least 12 months and be likely to be incapable of work for at least another 12 months, or be permanently incapable of work.

- Disability Allowance is a means tested social assistance payment. In order to satisfy the conditions for receipt of disability allowance (DA) a person must be suffering from an injury, disease, congenital deformity or physical or mental illness or defect which has continued or may reasonably be expected to continue for a period of at least a year and as a result of the condition the person is substantially restricted in undertaking work which would otherwise be suitable having regard to the person’s age, experience and qualifications. There are additional conditions that must be satisfied in relation to habitual residence.

- There are a number of other illness support payments associated with the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme, including; Injury Benefit, Disablement Benefit, Incapacity Supplement, Constant Attendance Allowance and the Medical Care Scheme.

I trust that this answers the Deputy’s question.