Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 282: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if an appeal can be opened in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [35426/10]

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 283: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a disability allowance appeal claim in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [35436/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that Office on 28 September 2010. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Social Welfare Services on the grounds of appeal be sought. When received, the appeal in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer for consideration. 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.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 284: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of social welfare appeals in each of the past three years dealing with a supplementary welfare claim, including claims for rent supplement and mortgage interest supplement; and the number of these that had been appealed to a Health Service Executive appeals officer. [35443/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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If a person is unhappy with the decision of the Health Service Executive (HSE) on his/her supplementary welfare allowance (including basic SWA, rent supplement, mortgage interest supplement) application, it is open to him/her to appeal the decision to the HSE Appeals Office. Where a person is dissatisfied with the outcome of his/her HSE appeal, he or she may appeal to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office. The Social Welfare Appeals Office deals with appeals relating to basic SWA and supplements but does not decide on appeals relating to exceptional or urgent needs payments. In the time frame available, I regret that my Department is not in a position to provide the statistics requested. My Department will be in contact with the Deputy over the coming days and provide the statistics requested.