asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will extend the definition of prescribed illness to include pneumoconiosis contracted from any source and not just from the confined sources of coal and asbestos as is currently the position; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Definition of Prescribed Illness.
91.
Pneumoconiosis arising from exposure to mineral dust in any occupation can be accepted as the basis for a claim for occupational injury benefit.
The legislation provides for a whole range of circumstances where persons have worked with particular substances which are known as probable sources of the disease. These circumstances are specifically prescribed and where they arise there is a presumption of occupational origin for the disease. These substances include not only coal and asbestos but an extensive range of other mineral dusts. These cover many occupations and the majority of claims are dealt with under these provisions.
While an automatic presumption of occupational origin does not arise in cases of exposure to mineral dust not specifically covered by the precribed list, each case is decided on its merits and accepted where it can be shown that the disease arose from an occupational origin. The provisions for the scheme in relation to this disease are accordingly considered to be adequate.