Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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561. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which INTREO continues to be involved in determination of fitness to work issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39319/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Intreo Centres provide support for people, including people with a disability or illness, in reaching their employment ambitions.

While it is a condition for the receipt of Jobseekers Payment that the person is available for, capable of and is genuinely seeking work, if a particular scheme is more appropriate to the individual's circumstances, they will be supported in making an application for that scheme.

Staff in Intreo Centres provide assistance in this process including referral to the nationwide EmployAbility service, which is a specialist service delivered under contract on behalf of my Department, and is designed to support persons with a disability in seeking and finding employment. 

In this regard, training has been delivered to over 60 Case Officers who can provide specialised support to people with disabilities.  In addition Disability Awareness training courses have been availed of and continue to be delivered to staff across the Department. 

I trust this clarifies the matter. 

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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562. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which various stages of incapacity may impede on ability of applicant to obtain or retain employment and as a result become reliant on a disability payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39320/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides income supports for those unable to work due to illness or disability.  There is a range of schemes available to people who make Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions. Entitlement to such schemes is dependent on the individual's social insurance contribution record, the class of social insurance paid as well as satisfying other qualification criteria. Illness Benefit and Invalidity Pension are two such non means tested income supports. 

Illness Benefit: is the primary income support payment for people who are unable to attend work due to illness, who have made the necessary PRSI contributions. Certification for the scheme is by the persons treating physician, in most cases a General Practitioner.

Invalidity Pension is a social insurance payment for people who are deemed permanently incapable of work due to a long-term illness or disability. Eligibility is subject to a medical assessment and PRSI contribution conditionality.  

A person who has an insufficient PRSI contribution record may apply for the appropriate means-tested social assistance scheme (Disability Allowance and the Blind Pension are both social assistance schemes). 

Disability Allowance: is designed to support people with a disability who are aged between 16 and 66, who are habitually resident in the state. Eligibility for Disability Allowance requires that the disability must be expected to last for at least one year, substantially restricting a person’s ability to undertake work which would otherwise be suitable for persons of similar age, experience, and qualification.

Blind Pension: is designed to support blind people/people with a specified level of low vision, aged 18 and up to the age of 66 who are habitually resident in the State. Eligibility for the Blind Pension requires that a person’s vision is impaired to such an extent that they cannot perform any work for which eyesight is essential or cannot continue in their ordinary occupation. Medical assessment requirements include a medical report from an Ophthalmic Surgeon or an Optometrist.

In addition to other conditions of a particular scheme (e.g. PRSI contributions, age, means) each application for the above schemes are individually assessed, based on the medical information provided by healthcare providers and the claimant.

It is also important to note, that each of these schemes have been designed to support a person to enter, return to or retain employment. This is achieved through the provision of: employment supports and grants (available through Intreo), the Partial Capacity Benefit scheme and income disregards for income from employment / self-employment (where means are assessed as part of the eligibility criteria for a given scheme).