asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and when payment will be made.

The person concerned claimed injury benefit from 8 November 1980 in respect of an accident at work on 29 October 1980. Before payment could be authorised on the claim it was necessary to seek confirmation from the employers that the incapacity arose out of an accident at work and the necessary inquiries were initiated.

At the same time the question of paying him disability benefit on an interim basis, pending determination of his claim to injury benefit, was examined but it was discovered that he had no contributions to his credit in respect of the year 1978-79, the contribution year governing payment of disability benefit on the claim. Further inquiries were, therefore, necessary to establish the duration of the employment in that year.

The two sets of inquiries have now been completed and it has been confirmed by the employers that he had sustained the injury during the course of his employment. Injury benefit was, accordingly, awarded from 8 November 1980 and payment of all benefit due has issued to him in respect of the period up to 16 January 1981. In the absence of medical evidence of incapacity he is not entitled to payment after 16 January 1981. If he was in fact incapable of work after that date he should submit covering medical evidence when the question of payment will be considered as a matter of urgency.

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