I propose to take Question Nos. 872, 902 and 905 together.
An insured person who is injured at work or who contracts a prescribed occupational disease may be entitled to benefits under the occupational injuries scheme. One of these is disablement benefit in respect of which claimants must be examined by a medical assessor of my Department to determine the degree of disablement that has resulted from the occupational injury or disease.
In this case the person has been in receipt of disablement benefit following occupational accidents sustained in 1976 and 1981. Up to 1989 there were a number of reviews of his medical condition and in 1988 he was awarded a pension at the 30% rate for life.
In March 1998 the person concerned sought a review of the assessed percentage loss of faculty on the grounds that his medical condition had worsened.
The case was re-examined and the chief medical adviser, following which it was decided that the assessment of 30% loss of faculty was the appropriate assessment.
An appeal was lodged against this decision and an oral hearing took place in May 2000. Following the hearing the appeals officer requested that an examination by an independent specialist consultant be arranged.
An appointment has now been made and the person concerned has been notified.
It is the practice of the social welfare appeals officer to advise appellants on the progress of their appeal from the initial acknowledgement of receipt of the appeal through to the notification of the outcome. In the case in question, where a final determination was not possible without further medical evidence, the person's legal representative was fully apprised of the position by the social welfare appeals office.