asked the Minister for Health when a disabled person's maintenance allowance will be approved for a person (details supplied) in County Dublin as the application was lodged with his Department in August 1981.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Disabled Person's Maintenance Allowance.
12.
I have made inquiries from the Eastern Health Board regarding the case referred to by the Deputy. I have been informed that the applicant has been granted a disabled person's maintenance allowance with effect from 1 August 1981.
In expressing my appreciation and pleasure that the application has been granted I should like to ask the Minister the reason for the excessive delay that took place in his Department in sanctioning this allowance having regard to the fact that the application was filed in the middle of 1981? This unfortunate person who is disabled and cannot walk was unable to pursue the application.
I am concerned at the delay which occurred in relation to the case and I am having the matter investigated. A number of delays occurred but not specifically in the Department of Health. There was a delay in arranging the medical examination due to the non-availability of medical staff and that goes back to last August-September. There was a delay in obtaining clearance once the case was referred to the central headquarters of the health board for approval. I am investigating the reasons for the delay because I believe it was undue in that case.
In the case of allowances for disabled people it is important that the Department and health boards deal with their applications expeditiously. Such people are disadvantaged enough without having their applications for allowances put on the long finger by the Department and health boards. They urgently need such benefits and the Minister should give the House an assurance that all such applications will be dealt with expeditiously in the future.
The health board did supply a supplementary welfare allowance in the interim. The Deputy should be clear that the executive functions in relation to this area rest with health boards and not directly with the Department. If the Deputy brings any complaints of this nature to my attention I will certainly have them reviewed immediately. In view of the delay which occurred in the case referred to I will have the matter reviewed to ensure that such delays do not occur again.