Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 385: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application; and when a decision will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly. [10973/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 21st September 2011. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 21st November 2011 and the appeal was assigned to an Appeals Officer for consideration on 11 January 2012.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 386: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11089/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 24 August 2011. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 1 February 2012 and the appeal will, in due course, be assigned to an Appeals Officer for consideration.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 387: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the grounds on which invalidity pension was refused in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if she will review this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11094/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Invalidity pension is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the contribution conditions.

This department received a claim for invalidity pension for the person concerned on 21 June 2011. The medical evidence provided by the claimant in support of her claim was examined by a medical assessor who was of the opinion that the person concerned does not satisfy the medical criteria. The application for invalidity pension was disallowed by a deciding officer. The person in question was notified of this decision and the reason for it on 15 July 2011.

Further medical evidence was subsequently submitted by the claimant. This additional evidence, along with the original information, was evaluated by a different medical assessor who also was of the opinion that she did not satisfy the medical criteria for invalidity pension. The deciding officer found that there were no grounds to overturn the original decision to disallow invalidity pension and the person concerned was notified of the outcome on 25 January 2012.

The person concerned has appealed the decision and her file has been forwarded to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office for determination.

Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 388: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on an application for carer's allowance will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if she will expedite a response. [11108/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The person concerned was refused carer's allowance on the grounds that the care recipient is not so invalided or disabled as to require full-time care and attention as laid down in legislation. On 30 November 2011 he was notified of this decision and the reasons for it. The person in question appealed the decision and submitted additional medical evidence in support of his claim. This additional medical evidence has now been reviewed by a medical assessor, however, it has been decided that a revision of the original decision is not warranted.

An appeals submission will be prepared and his file and papers will be referred to the Social Welfare Appeals Office for determination as soon as possible.

Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 389: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on an application for disability allowance will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if she will expedite a response. [11109/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 06 December 2011. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 17 January 2012 and the appeal will, in due course, be assigned to an Appeals Officer for consideration.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.