Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
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432. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if endometriosis will be considered for long-term illness benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27534/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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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.

It is important to note that entitlement to these supports is generally not dependent on the nature of the illness or disability but on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a working age person’s capacity to work. My Department also offers supports for carers of people with an illness or disability.

Illness benefit is the primary income support provided by my Department to those who cannot work in the short term due to illness of any kind and is funded by the Social Insurance Fund, through the payment of Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions.

A change in the rules and regulations governing the illness benefit scheme in 2009 included the introduction of a limit on the period for which illness benefit can be paid. Since then, subject to the level of relevant PRSI contributions paid, illness benefit is now only payable for a maximum period of two years. Where a person exhausts their entitlement to payment of illness benefit and is expected to remain unfit to attend work for a further period of at least 12 months, they have the option of making an application for invalidity pension.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.