O'Dea: Extraordinary that more are being turned down for disability allowance

Fianna Fáil are warning that two out of every three disability allowance applications to the Department of Social Welfare are being refused.

The party have issued figures showing that the amount of applications refused has risen from 54% in 2010 to 61% for 2011.

The party's spokesperson for social protection, Willie O'Dea, says the latest figures show that this number will jump to nearly two thirds of all applications being refused for 2012.

And he says he doesn't understand why the refusals keep rising: "In so far as people being turned down are concerned, there's no change in criteria.

"Well if there's no change in the critieria since this government took office, then it is absolutely extraordinary that many more people are being turned down for disability allowance.