asked the Minister for Health if he will state the number of persons (a) who made applications to the Dublin Corporation under the Disabled Persons (Maintenance Allowance) Regulations, 1954, (b) whose applications were recommended for acceptance, and (c) whose applications were refused, and the grounds on which they were refused.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Disabled Persons' Allowances.
The Dublin Corporation have intimated that to 20th April (a) they had received 2,002 applications under the Disabled Persons (Maintenance Allowance) Regulations, 1954, (b) 415 of these applications have been allowed, and (c) 845 were refused. Of the latter number, 312 applications were rejected on medical grounds, and 533 were regarded as being ineligible on financial grounds.
Might I ask if the Minister is aware that a very large number of those persons who have been turned down on medical grounds have been certified disabled for years by the local dispensary doctors? Further, I would like to ask the Minister if he has any information as to when those who have been passed for payment will receive their arrears?
That is a different question.
In regard to the question about those turned down on medical grounds, as the Deputy is aware, under the Health Act of 1953 I am debarred from entering into those matters and no appeal arises to me.