Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 229: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when an oral hearing will be held in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo [42022/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The claim for disability allowance, by the person concerned, was disallowed by a Deciding Officer of the Department on 23 April 2010 following an assessment by a Medical Assessor who expressed the opinion that she was not medically suitable.

An appeal was opened on 30 June 2010 and the Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that, in accordance with statutory requirements, the Department was asked for the documentation in the case and the Deciding Officer's comments on the grounds of the appeal. In that context, an assessment by another Medical Assessor will be carried out.

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.