Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 522: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if an oral hearing will be held for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo who has applied for the carer's allowance, has been refused and has sent in further substantial medical evidence. [10372/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned applied for carer's allowance on 3 December 2004. The principal conditions for receipt of the allowance are that full-time care and attention is required and being provided and that the means test that applies is satisfied.

Her application was refused on the grounds that full-time care and attention as prescribed in regulations was not required in this case. She submitted further medical evidence as a result of which her application for carer's allowance was reviewed. However, there was no change in the original decision as a result of the review.

The person concerned was notified of the original decision, the reason for it and her right to appeal, on 11 February 2005. Notification of the result of the review issued on 24 March 2005. No appeal has been made to date.

Under social welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.