Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason an appeal for domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not been finalised; when the appeal was received by the appeals office; when same will be dealt with; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45374/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal from the person concerned was received on 14 July 2009 and in accordance with the statutory requirements, the relevant Departmental papers and comments of the Social Welfare Services on the matters raised in the appeal were sought. Following receipt of the relevant Departmental papers including comments on the grounds of appeal, the appeal from the person concerned has been referred to an Appeals Officer for consideration. There has been a 44% increase in the number of appeals received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office to the end of November 2009 when compared to the same period in 2008, which in itself was 27% greater than the numbers received in 2007. This has caused delays in the processing of appeals. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of the Department that is independently responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.