Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 June 2025
333. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will receive a decision on an application for disablement benefit made in October 2023; if he will outline the reason the decision has taken so long and engage with Tusla on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33339/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraDisablement Benefit is a compensatory payment for persons who have suffered a loss of faculty due to injury arising out of and in their insurable employment. All qualifying criteria for disablement benefit must be satisfied before entitlement to payment can be established.
The person concerned applied for disablement benefit on 26 October 2023 for an accident which was alleged to have occurred on 5 October 2018 whilst in the employment.
Due to the complexity of the scheme and the passage of time from the date of this accident to the date of the application, it was necessary to refer this case to a Social Welfare Inspector for investigation to ascertain the facts of the case. The inspection was conducted recently, following which the Social Welfare Inspector’s report was finalised, in June 2025. The accident has been deemed an occupational accident. The person concerned has been notified of this decision and advised of the next steps. The person concerned has also been referred to the Medical Assessors to ascertain their percentage loss of their faculty due to this occupational accident.
In the meantime the person concerned continues to receive income support through their Invalidity Pension payment from the Department.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
