Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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276. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will assign a representative to meet with a teacher (details supplied) in relation to their application for ill health retirement. [15663/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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It is open to a pension scheme member to consider applying for early retirement on the grounds of ill health where a serious medical condition exists. The granting of retirement on grounds of ill-health is not automatic. An applicant must apply to my Department and separately, in consultation with his/her medical advisers, submit medical evidence on the condition, directly to the Occupational Health Service (OHS) in support of the application. The OHS on behalf of the Department, carries out a robust process involving assessment of the person’s medical condition and its likely permanency.

Following an assessment of the medical evidence by the OHS (Medmark), which may include consultation with the applicant, the only information provided to officials in my Department is the recommendation of the physician who carried out the assessment, or the recommendation of the appeal physician. My Department is not privy to the medical evidence or medical reports provided to or completed by the Occupational Health Service although my officials communicate the outcome to the applicant.

I can confirm that officials from the Pension Unit of my Department will contact the person referred to in your correspondence in order to provide clarification in relation to the application process for retirement on the grounds of ill health.