asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of medical referees at present employed by his Department; the equivalent figures for the last four years; and if he will make a statement as to whether he is satisfied with the decisions taken in general by these medical referees.
Written Answers. - Departmental Statistics.
21.
The number of medical referees at present employed by my Department is 18. My Department are, however, in the process of recruiting two additional medical referees to bring the cadre to 20. The equivalent figures during the years 1982 to 1985 were, 15, 17, and 18 respectively. All medical referees are registered with the Medical Council of Ireland and they carry out their duties under the general guidance and control of the Department's medical adviser. Their main function is to express professional opinion on the medical condition of insured persons to enable deciding officers and appeal officers to determine entitlements under the provisions of the Social Welfare and Occupational Injuries Acts. I consider that in furnishing medical reports the medical referees fulfil the objectives of the Department's schemes in a satisfactory manner.