asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of men and women who have had disability benefit refused to them since February 1987 to date; the numbers who have transferred to unemployment benefit for both males and females; the financial saving which has been effected by the substantial numbers which have had benefit discontinued to them following medical examinations; if he has satisfied himself that evidence presented from consultants-specialists is taken into consideration by medical referees at medical examinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Disability Benefit.
42.
The medical referee system is a major procedure in a range of controls exercised in the administration of disability benefit. From 1 February 1987 to 14 October 1988, 38,109 claimants were found to be capable of work following medical referee examination and thus no longer entitled to benefit.
As a result of the various control measures, the number of disability benefit claims in payment each week has fallen from 81,619 at the beginning of February 1987 to 63,551 at the beginning of November 1988 and we are on target to achieve savings of some £11 million on the original published estimate for disability benefit expenditure figures in 1988. The corresponding saving for 1987 was of the order of £14 million.
Every effort is made to ensure that the interests of persons referred for medical referee examination are fully safeguarded. Their own certifiers are advised of the forthcoming examinations and invited to submit an appropriate medical report including references to any recent consultant examinations. All such reports are taken into account by the examining medical referee. In addition, it is open to a certifier to attend the examination if he or she so wishes.
In regard to the question of figures for men and women and information in relation to persons who claim unemployment benefit following disallowance of disability benefit, the position is that statistics are not kept in a manner which would show the information sought by the Deputy.
The Minister has missed the point. People who attend a medical referee take with them evidence from consultants they have attended but it is not taken into consideration. For example, I have documentation which indicates that a certain person was considered to be unfit for work yet a general practitioner overruled that by simply testing the person's pulse. Secondly, a person cannot afford to have the consultant attend at the medical referee examination because it costs £130 to have a consultant attend, while the Department only allow a payment of £30. I am concerned that people are being deprived of benefit wrongly.
The medical referee is a qualified medical person. If the person is not satisfied with the decision of the first medical referee, we then provide a second separate medical referee and, as the Deputy is aware, many people find satisfaction with the second medical referee.
Why?
I suppose because of human nature. The person may then further appeal the decision. The Deputy raised the question of consultants' reports. These are taken into consideration and should be taken into consideration.
May I have the permission of the House to deal with the remaining Question No. 43, in the name of Deputy Jim O'Keeffe?