asked the Minister for Social Welfare the programme which she has established for examinations of claimants of disability benefit by medical referees; and the number of these examinations which were made in each of the years from 1982 to 1985 inclusive; and the number of claimants who were deemed to be capable of work as a result of these examinations in each of these years.

The provision of second medical opinions in respect of claimants by the medical referees of my Department has always been a key element of the system of control of claims for disability and injury benefit.

In recent years considerable attention has been paid to improving the effectiveness of medical referee controls. The medical referee cadre has been increased substantially, from 18 to 25 within the past year. Enhanced clerical and computer back-up facilities have been provided in order to improve the selection of cases for referral to medical referees and to ensure that follow-up action is completed as required.

Examinations are carried out in rotation at centres situated throughout the country in the main cities and towns.

A significant proportion of those called for examination by a medical referee do not attend. Unless such persons can provide a reasonable explanation they are penalised. Payment of benefit is disallowed and they are called again for examination. The period of disallowance is shortly being increased to nine weeks.

Details requested of examinations carried out from 1982 to 1985 are given in the form of a table circulated in the Official Report.

Medical Referee Examinations

How long, on average, are people in receipt of disability benefit before they are called to see a medical referee?

New claimants are listed by computer programme for review after a standard interval, having regard to the nature of the certified incapacity. The cases are then reviewed by the medical adviser who decides regarding examination by a medical referee. He may write to the certifier for further details. Cases listed for medical referee examination are first notified to the medical certifier who is invited to furnish details of the claimant's history and also to attend the examination if he wishes. Certifiers' reports, where received, are considered by the medical referee and taken into account in conducting the examination. Medical referee reports, including any certifier's report and any previous reports, are then submitted to the medical adviser for approval before a decision is given.