Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 408: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason for the delay in making a decision on a jobseekers allowance appeal for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and when a decision will be reached on this appeal. [40713/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The claim for jobseeker's allowance by the person concerned was refused by a Deciding Officer of the Department on 24 August 2008 on the grounds that his means exceeded the statutory limit.

An appeal was opened on 17 September 2008 and I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, in accordance with statutory requirements, the Department was asked for the documentation in the case and the Deciding Officer's comments on the grounds of the appeal, as a result of which the Department has referred the case to a Social Welfare Inspector for further investigation.

On receipt of the Departments response the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer for early consideration. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of the Department that is independently responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.