Vol. 536 No. 3
208 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will review the diseases prescribed for the purposes of the disablement benefit scheme with a view to including miners, who have chronic asthma due to their employment, in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14199/01]
The legislation governing the occupational injuries scheme provides entitlement to disablement benefit for persons suffering from certain prescribed diseases listed in the legislation, where they have contracted the disease in the course of their employment.
Where a person has contracted one of the diseases listed in the legislation, benefits are payable only if they were employed in an occupation which is specifically prescribed in relation to that disease. Occupational asthma is a prescribed disease in relation to employments where there is exposure to certain specified agents.
A working group, headed up by the Department's chief medical adviser has been established within the Department to review the current list of prescribed diseases and employments and to make recommendations on any appropriate amendments, deletions and additions that should be made to it in light of current medical knowledge and having regard to changing work environments. The working group, as part of their deliberations, will critically consider the position regarding occupational asthma associated with mining and any related issues.
