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Dáil Éireann - Volume 269 - 20 November, 1973 Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Disability Benefit Claimants. Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley 8. Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Social Welfare the arrangements, if any, he has made to alleviate distress among recipients of disability benefit who cannot get certificates signed due to the junior hospital doctors dispute. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Welfare (Mr. Cluskey) Frank Cluskey 9 Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Welfare (Mr. Cluskey): There is no evidence that [9] insured persons have experienced any difficulty in the matter of claiming disability benefit as a result of the junior hospital doctors dispute. The question of distress does not, therefore, arise but if it should become clear at any time that difficulties are arising my Department will make all necessary arrangements to inform the public as to the steps to be taken to obtain benefit. Mr. Wyse Mr. Wyse Mr. Wyse: Arising from the Parliamentary Secretary's reply, is he telling us that he has no records in his Department of people who were refused certificates on their claims for disability? Mr. Cluskey Mr. Cluskey Mr. Cluskey: As I explained in the reply to the question, there is no evidence that any difficulty has been experienced. Mr. Wyse Mr. Wyse Mr. Wyse: Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that people claiming disability benefit have gone to the hospitals where disputes exist and have been told to see their own private medical practitioners? It has cost them £1 to get a certificate. Mr. Cluskey Mr. Cluskey Mr. Cluskey: Is the Deputy talking about in-patients or out-patients? Mr. Wyse Mr. Wyse Mr. Wyse: Both are involved. Mr. Corish Mr. Corish Mr. Corish: As far as in-patients are concerned there is no problem. Mr. Wyse Mr. Wyse Mr. Wyse: What about the out-patients? Mr. Cluskey Mr. Cluskey Mr. Cluskey: There is no evidence that any difficulty has been experienced. Mr. Wyse Mr. Wyse Mr. Wyse: I am surprised at that answer. There is not a public representative in the country at the moment who has not been asked about this question. Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley: May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether he recalls last week Deputy O'Connell asking the Minister for Social Welfare if he would endeavour to work out some arrangements which would prevent this problem? The Minister agreed he would make that effort. Unquestionably, the problem exists. An Ceann Comhairle Seán Treacy 10 [10] An Ceann Comhairle: The Deputy is making a statement rather than asking a supplementary question. Mr. Cluskey Mr. Cluskey Mr. Cluskey: I would like to make a correction. The Minister admitted no such thing, in so far as the problem does not exist. I am aware that Deputy O'Malley, since this difficulty arose, has done everything possible to aggravate it. Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley: That is not answering the question. Mr. Cluskey Mr. Cluskey Mr. Cluskey: The Deputy created a problem where none existed in a very difficult and delicate situation. He should be more responsible. Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley: People go to out-patient departments where they would normally get their certificates signed. These out-patient departments are either not functioning or hardly functioning. The people cannot get their certificates signed. They have to go to their private doctors and pay for the certificates. Mr. Cluskey Mr. Cluskey Mr. Cluskey: There is no evidence to support that allegation. On the contrary, all the evidence indicates that no difficulty is being experienced. However, I assure the House that in the event of any difficulty arising it will be dealt with in such a way as to ensure that benefits are made available. Dáil Éireann 269 Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. Disability Benefit Claimants. Questions 19731120
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