Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 440: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason for the delay in processing an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 which was submitted in July 2008; and if she will ensure that a decision is reached as soon as possible. [27751/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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An application for carer's allowance, by the person concerned, was received by the Department on 23/7/08 and disallowed by a Deciding Officer of the Department on 03 February 2009 on the grounds that the care recipient was not so invalided or disabled as to require full-time care and attention as laid down in the carer's allowance legislation.

An appeal was opened on 10 March 2009 and I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, in accordance with the statutory requirements, the Department was asked for the documentation in the case and the Deciding Officer's comments on the grounds of the appeal. These are now to hand and have been referred to an Appeals Officer for 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.