Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 274: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved and awarded the respite care grant; and if it will be backdated to 2005. [43363/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The person to whom the Deputy refers submitted an application for Respite Care Grant which was received in the Department on 27 November 2006. This application was treated as an application for the 2005 Respite Care Grant. A decision not to award the Respite Care Grant in this case was made by a Deciding Officer on 30th November 2006. Amongst the documentary information relied upon by the Deciding Officer was the opinion of a medical assessor who, on examination of the medical evidence submitted with the application, was of the view that the person being cared for was not so incapacitated as to require full time care and attention.

The person submitted additional medical evidence on the 6th December 2006 for review of the decision. In reviewing the original decision, the Deciding Officer sought the opinion of the Chief Medical Adviser who, having examined the additional medical evidence submitted, was of the view that the person being cared for is not so incapacitated as to require full time care and attention. Accordingly, the Deciding Officer confirmed the original decision and a letter outlining this decision was issued on the 13th December 2006.

The most recent correspondence from the person concerned is being treated as an appeal against the original decision and is being forwarded to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office for their consideration.