asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in awarding disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.

The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit since 25 January 1989.

Payment was disallowed from 6 May 1989 following an examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. The disallowance has been appealed and as a result arrangements are being made to have the person examined by a different medical referee at an early date.

His entitlement to payment of disability benefit will be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report.