John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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222. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the details of the medical criteria to qualify for being assessed as either moderate, severe and profound under the partial capacity benefit scheme (invalidity pension); whether the criteria are published so that applicants can understand how the medical assessments are carried out; and if so where the information is available to access; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5261/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Assessments for partial capacity benefit scheme are undertaken by my department’s medical assessors, who are experienced doctor’s with various sub-specialty qualifications, all hold full registration with the Irish medical council.

Each application is assessed on its own merits and based on the submitted medical evidence, relevant medical and clinical factors are taken into consideration such as,

1. The customer’s impairment, results of investigations, outcome of treatments (medical or surgical), their current symptoms, level of restriction & prognosis of condition.
2. The customer’s account of how they are affected by their condition with special emphasis on their ability to cope with the activities of daily living (ADLs) and work-related activities.
3. All submitted medical evidence is considered including customers self-health questionnaire, GP reports, any specialist reports, results of investigations such as X-rays, CT and MRI scans, and blood tests.
4. The medical assessor exercises medical knowledge and clinical judgement in forming opinion and grading of mild, moderate, severe or profound in assessment of applications on a case-by-case basis.