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

The person concerned has been paid all disability benefit due to 7 March 1981. After that date further payment will be made in advance of medical certification which, in future, will be required at monthly intervals only.

He had been paid benefit on the receipt of medical evidence of incapacity up to the end of December 1980. At that stage the change-over from insurance numbers to RSI numbers became effective for the purposes of payment of benefit. As all the certificates received from him since 5 January 1981 bore only his insurance number there was some delay in associating them with his claim.

When was the money paid and when was the question put down?

Payment was made on receipt of the medical evidence.

The Minister has said that the applicant was paid on 7 March. Can he give the date on which the question was put down?

I have not got that information.

We cannot have a debate on this.

When a person sends in a medical certificate which does not bear the RSI number what happens?

He has to send in the RSI number.

11.