Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 413: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if an appeal will be opened for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in respect of their disability allowance refusal. [25310/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that a form for the opening of an appeal has been forwarded to the person concerned and requesting him to state the grounds for his appeal. On receipt of his reply the appeal will be opened and processed in the normal manner.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 414: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will indicate the consultant that examined a person (details supplied) in County Mayo, which resulted in their invalidity pension appeal being disallowed; and if he will provide full details of the consultant. [25313/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned underwent a medical assessment on 16th April 2009, in respect of entitlement to illness benefit and an application for invalidity pension. The assessment, which included a physical examination, was conducted by a fully qualified and experienced practitioner, who would have had at least six years experience in the practice of medicine prior to joining the Department and who has also undergone special training in human disability evaluation. Based on the medical opinion offered as a result of this assessment payment of illness benefit was suspended and the application for invalidity pension was refused. The person concerned appealed these decisions. A second medical assessment was conducted by a second similarly qualified medical assessor, who agreed with the opinion offered from the original assessment. Following an oral hearing by the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office, at which the findings of the second assessor were taken into account, the decisions were upheld.