asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork who applied for disablement benefit in January of this year has still not been given a decision with regard to same.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefit.
102.
The person concerned claimed disablement benefit on 29 October 1986 in respect of bronchitis allegedly contracted at work. The disease however is not a prescribed disease under the occupational injuries scheme and the claim was not accepted. The claimant then indicated that he wished to claim disablement benefit in respect of occupational asthma.
To qualify for disablement benefit for occupational asthma the claimant is required to be in employment involving contact with prescribed substances. The claimant was requested on 10 February 1987 to indicate details of his employment and also the substances involved which he maintains caused the attack of the disease. A similar inquiry was made from his employers. The position was not clear however in the light of the replies received and the case was referred to the social welfare officer on 1 May 1987 for further investigations. His investigations revealed that the employment also involved additional substances possibly relating to the disablement and the claimant was requested to furnish a specialist report. It is expected that a decision will be made on the claim on receipt of the report.
In the meantime the claimant is in receipt of invalidity pension.