asked the Minister for the Public Service if a member of the public service is obliged to claim for disability benefit or if a doctor's certificate will suffice; the regulation that governs decisions by his Department regarding the payment of disability benefit to take the allowance for wife and child into account in calculating the difference between the rate of disability benefit and normal salary; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Sick Pay Schemes.
471.
The issues raised by the Deputy are covered by the terms of occupational sick pay schemes rather than the Social Welfare Acts. My Department are responsible for the Civil Service sick pay schemes. The aim of these schemes is to ensure that, within certain limits, an employee who is out sick is in general no worse off financially than while at work. Thus, in the case of civil servants eligible for disability benefit, the scheme provides for the payment of the difference between full salary and any benefits payable under the Social Welfare Acts. In addition to claiming the relevant benefits from the Department of Social Welfare, a civil servant must satisfy the requirements of the occupational sick pay scheme — including those governing the furnishing of medical certificates.