Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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521. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if in-person medical assessments have resumed for the disablement benefit; if not, the reason therefor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24865/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that where appropriate in-person assessments resumed since the 21/03/2022. Cases are being scheduled on the basis of clinical priority since this date.

It should be noted that, as was the case pre-pandemic, the scheduling of in-person assessment centres depends on the number of individual cases ready for scheduling in that location. Plans are in place to schedule in-person centres for Disablement Benefit in June 2022.

In addition to this my department are continuing to conduct desk assessment of Disablement Benefit cases where appropriate.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.