asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of cases which are at present being granted invalidity pensions; the equivalent figures for each of the years from 1982 to 1985 inclusive; and if long-term cases on disability benefit are automatically examined and assessed for invalidity pensions after a prescribed period of time.

To qualify for invalidity pension, a person must satisfy the contribution conditions, must have been in receipt of disability benefit for a year and must be permanently incapable of work.

The usual practice is that in the normal control of disability benefit claims, the Department's medical referees suggest when claimants should be referred for further examination. If the medical referee indicates that a person is permanently incapable of work after receiving disability benefit for a year, that person is informed of the right to claim invalidity pension.

The number of persons receiving invalidity pension on 31 March this year was 24,026. The average numbers receiving pension in the years from 1982 to 1985 were 20,395, 20,849, 21,981 and 24,112 respectively.

Is it usual for claimants on long term disability payments who are on monthly certification to have to wait years before they are called for reassessment by referees for invalidity pensions? Many of them will not opt for invalidity pensions because they are unaware that they may be entitled to them. Is it not incumbent on the Department after, say, 12 months, to have such people examined and reassessed so that they may be qualified for invalidity pensions because of permanent incapacity?

I have set out the usual practice. There are many people in receipt of disability allowances who would possibly qualify for invalidity pensions but they would perfer to remain on disability allowances. The Deputy will be aware that invalidity pensions are liable for tax deductions and if claimants for invalidity pensions have other incomes, which some of them have, they would be at a loss if they changed from disability allowances. If a spouse has a social welfare allowance, the transfer of the other spouse to invalidity pension would mean a financial loss. There is not automatic selection of people who have been long periods on disability benefits. Medical referees who examine people at the end of a normal period on disability benefit either report that such people should be on invalidity pensions or should be reconsidered for them in six months or 12 months.

Though accepting that it may well be to the financial disadvantage of some claimants for invalidity pensions, there are others for whom it would be extremely advantageous because of the benefits in kind, such as free travel and so on, in the case of people eligible for invalidity pensions. It is rather incongruous that the Department would not have a specific policy in this respect as in others.

The Deputy is getting far away from the question.

Have the Department any specific policy in relation to giving directions to the medical referees to examine people on long term disability benefit to see if they are entitled to invalidity pensions?

Many referees refer people for invalidity pensions if their medical conditions qualify them. The Deputy should be aware that referees are working under severe pressure at present and that it is not always possible for them to go through claims of people on disability benefits to determine if they are entitled to invalidity pensions. Anyway, claimants are much more aware these days of their possible entitlements and the vast majority of those who feel they are entitled to invalidity pensions submit claims for them. Such claims are attended to.