Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 September 2012
1859. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health when it will be accepted that Long Q - T Syndrome is a disability that requires parents and carers of young persons with this syndrome to give extra care and attention to their child. [39294/12]
View answerThe Minister does not classify specific medical illnesses or conditions as a disability. There are a number of definitions of disability that are used for particular purposes e.g. Disability Act, Education for Persons with Special Education Needs Act, Equal Status Act, the Census and qualifying criteria for income supports such as Domiciliary Care Allowance, Disability Allowance, Mobility Allowance etc. These definitions define disability in terms of an individual's functional ability in their environment rather than a medical diagnosis or condition.
