139 Mr. M. Barrett asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 who appeared before a medical referee on 26 June 1990 was declared as being fit to take up employment, in view of the fact that on 16 November, 1989 another medical referee decided that the person was incapable of work and awarded him a disablement pension for life; if he will restore the disability benefit and have it back-dated; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The decision in November 1989 related to an assessment for disablement pension in respect of an accident at work in 1981. The factors taken into account in determining disablement pension are all the disabilities or loss of faculty, whether or not involving a loss of earning power, to which a claimant is subject as compared with a person of the same age and sex in normal health.

Disablement benefit is payable whether or not a person is otherwise fit for work. The fact that a person has been awarded a disablement pension for life would not necessarily mean that he is incapable of work, or that he would not be subject to the normal reviews for claimants in receipt of disability benefit.