Ireland spends less on disability benefits than any other EU country for which statistics are available, according to a newly published official study.
It also finds that guidance and counselling services for people claiming sickness or disability benefits are less accessible in Ireland than in some other member states.
The study was compiled by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, an EU body based in Dublin.
It set out to examine why increasing numbers of people who would otherwise be available for work are claiming long-term sickness and disability benefits across the EU.
The issue is of increasing importance given the need for member states to find workers to replace those who retire, as the EU's demographic profile ages.
The foundation's report examined in particular the quality of employment guidance and counselling services aimed at people on long-term sickness and disability leave.
In relation to labour market issues, "disability" refers to those who are claiming some form of disability or sickness benefit and have usually lost their connection with their former employer.
It differs in that respect from the wider term "people with disabilities".
The report, "Employment guidance services for people with disabilities", uncovered "considerable variation" between countries in terms of spending on disability benefits.
The Nordic countries were found to be high spenders, with Sweden at the top of the table. It spends 4.3 per cent of its GDP on disability benefits.
Ireland was bottom of the table of 22 member states featured, with spending of 0.8 per cent of GDP. The report pointed out, however, that in Ireland most public servants were excluded from the figures as they are covered by a separate scheme.
Other variations in spending are accounted for by the different levels of benefits in member states, differences in eligibility and differences in age structure of the respective populations.
The report can be accessed via the foundation's website at www.eiro.eurofound.ie
