Vol. 504 No. 7
283 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if an investigation will be carried out into the decision by a Department official regarding a person (details supplied) in County Mayo who had been in receipt of disability benefit, applied for invalidity pension and was found to be capable of work, particularly in view of the fact he suffers severely from arthritis; and if his benefits will be restored. [12867/99]
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from October 1995 to 8 May 1999. In the context of an application for invalidity pension the person concerned was examined by a medical assessor of the Department on 27 April 1999. The medical assessor who examined him was of the opinion that he was capable of work and the deciding officer made a decision terminating his disability benefit claim on the basis of this finding.
The person concerned appealed this decision to the independent social welfare appeals office on 10 May 1999 and in the context of his appeal he will be examined by another medical assessor. He will be notified shortly of the arrangements for the examination.
284 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be called for an oral hearing to finalise her appeal for the full restoration of invalidity pension in view of the fact she has been receiving this pension for eight years since her accident. [12868/99]
The person concerned was paid invalidity pension to 10 March 1999 when payment was stopped following an examination by a medical assessor of the Department who expressed the view that she was capable of work.
She appealed this decision to the independent social welfare appeals office and in the context of her appeal she was examined by another medical assessor on 23 April 1999 who was also of the opinion that she was capable of work.
The appeals officer has afforded her an opportunity to furnish any further evidence she wished to submit in support of her appeal. In the light of this the matter will be put before the appeals officer who will decide, inter alia, whether an oral hearing is required.
