Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-North Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 363: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding a disability allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41451/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Payment of disability allowance, to the person concerned, was refused following an examination by a Medical Assessor of the Department who expressed the opinion that she was medically unsuitable for the allowance. An appeal was opened, and in the context of that appeal, her case was reviewed by a second Medical Assessor who also expressed the opinion that she was medically unsuitable for disability allowance.

I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, in the light of this second medical opinion, that office decided to afford her an opportunity of setting out the complete and up to date grounds of her appeal. For this purpose a form SWAO1 was issued on 25 May 2009. However, the person concerned failed to respond and, consequently, her appeal was withdrawn on 15 September 2009. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of the Department that is independently responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-North Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 364: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding an invalidity pension appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41452/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that, in accordance with statutory requirements, the relevant Departmental papers and comments on the grounds of appeal in the case of the person concerned have been sought. When received, the appeal in question 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.