asked the Minister for Social Welfare the cause of delay in dealing with the case of a person (name supplied) of Ennybegs, Drumlish, County Longford; and if he will take steps to have this case disposed of by the issue of sickness benefit to the claimant.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sickness Benefit Claim.
6.
The person referred to by the Deputy was paid disability benefit up to 23rd January, 1973, after which date he ceased to submit medical certificates of incapacity. The Deputy will recall that in the course of representations on the claimant's behalf he furnished a medical certificate in May last certifying him to be incapable of work due to the incapacity in respect of which he had previously been paid benefit. As a medical referee of the Department had examined the claimant in February and had expressed the opinion that he was not incapable of work because of that incapacity, the opinion of a specialist was sought on the medical evidence forwarded by the Deputy. The claimant was examined by the specialist and his report, which was received at the end of July, contained nothing which would support the claimant's plea of incapacity.
In the meantime, certificates of incapacity had been submitted by the claimant certifying him to be incapable of work from 2nd June, 1973, because of a new ailment. The opinion of a medical referee of the Department was sought and, following examination of the claimant on 25th September, 1973, he expressed the opinion that he was incapable of work because of the new incapacity. Disability benefit has accordingly been restored with effect from 2nd June, 1973, and all benefit due to the date of the latest medical certificate received has been paid.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that this claimant was injured in the course of his work with the Forestry Division of the Department of Lands and that a period of 18 months elapsed before the medical men became aware that he should be taken to an orthopaedic surgeon? Is the Parliamentary Secretary further aware that but for the fact that I queried this whole matter the claimant would still be without benefit? Will the Parliamentary Secretary take steps to see that the original claim will be reconsidered and will he enquire into the long delay arising from his injuries and apparently from the indolence of the medical men who were in charge of his case?
The original claim was adjudicated on by qualified medical men, including a specialist, on a number of occasions. They decided that this man was capable of working. It is as a result of a new ailment that the man is now being paid.
With respect to the Parliamentary Secretary, this is the information which has been supplied to him. I am not prepared to accept this explanation. I am of the opinion that the medical men changed this complaint, as it were, in order to smother their delay in dealing with this case.
Through the Chair, I cannot accept the Deputy's statement unless he is prepared to substantiate it. The information I have before me does not coincide with what the Deputy has just stated.
I will substantiate my statements in the course of a week or so and if I have no better information from the Parliamentary Secretary I will raise the matter later on the Adjournment.
Any communication the Deputy would like to make with the Department will, of course, be examined. Whether the Deputy wishes to raise it further in the Dáil is purely a matter for the Deputy.