Joe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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123. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the breakdown of illness benefit recipients by length of time they have been in receival of the payment, under 1 year, between 1 and 2 years, between 2 and 3 years, between 3 and 4 years and between 4 and 5 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32949/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Illness Benefit is a payment for those who cannot work in the short term if they are ill. A person who has paid between 104 and 259 contributions at an appropriate class, since entering employment, is entitled to receive payment of Illness Benefit for a maximum of 312 paid days in any one period of interruption of employment, while a person who has paid a total of 260 or more contributions at an appropriate class, since entering employment, is entitled to receive payment of Illness Benefit for a maximum of 624 paid days in any one period of interruption of employment. There are exceptions to those limitations, for example for persons with claims starting prior to 5 January 2009 who had paid a total of 260 or more contributions at an appropriate class, since entering employment, are entitled to receive payment of Illness Benefit for as long as that person is incapable of work up to the age of 66. In the timeframe available to answer this parliamentary question, I regret that it is not possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy.