Bruton: No ‘stealth barrier’ for allowance

Social Protection Minister Joan Burton has denied imposing “stealth barriers” aimed at limiting the number of people being granted disability allowances.

Ms Burton hit back at claims by Fianna Fáil that a “behind closed doors” policy of obstruction has been imposed by her department after the Irish Examiner revealed that refusal rates had climbed from 54% to 61% in the first quarter of 2012.

The minister said that “nothing underhand” was going on and no secret change in the criteria for the allowances had been made.