Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 290: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a domiciliary care allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42905/10]

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 19 August 2010. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received back in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 02 November 2010 and the appeal will be referred in due course to an Appeals Officer who will decide whether the case can be decided on a summary basis or whether to list it for oral hearing.

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 McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 291: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person(details supplied) in County Cork. [42911/10]

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 25 June 2010. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received back in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 9 September 2010 and the appeal will be referred in due course to an Appeals Officer who will decide whether the case can be decided on a summary basis or whether to list it for oral hearing.

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.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 292: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [42938/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, an Appeals Officer, having considered all the available evidence, disallowed the jobseeker's allowance appeal of the person concerned.

However, following the submission of additional evidence the Appeals Officer agreed to review the case. The person concerned will be contacted when the appeal has been finalised.

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.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 293: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will be facilitated with a date for an oral hearing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42950/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned in relation to two sons was received, there was no appeal received in relation to the daughter of the person concerned. The appeal was referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing in this case. The person concerned will be informed when arrangements have been made. There was a 46% increase in the number of appeals received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office in 2009 when compared to 2008, which in itself was 27% greater than the numbers received in 2007. There was an increase of a further 44% in the number of appeals received in the first eight months of 2010. These increases have caused delays in the processing of appeals. In order to be fair to all appellants, oral hearings are arranged in strict chronological order. A number of initiatives have been put in place to enhance the capacity of the office to deal with the current caseload and inflows. In that regard: · 3 additional Appeals Officers were assigned to the Office in 2009, · A number of additional staff were assigned to the administration area of

the Office, · The organisation of the Appeals Officer's work has been changed so as

to increase productivity, · A project to improve the business processes in the office was undertaken

which has resulted in a number of improvements being implemented, and · Significant enhancements have been made to the office's IT and phone

systems.

In addition, it was decided to use experienced retired staff strictly on a short term basis to supplement the current resources and the services of eight retired officers have now been secured on a part-time basis and have been operating since July.

I am assured by the Chief Appeals Officer that she is keeping current processes under continuous review with a view to achieving a more effective throughput of appeals, while ensuring that any progress does not conflict with due process in terms of the rights of appellants and adherence to the requirements of natural justice.

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.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 294: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when an application will be processed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42954/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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An application for domiciliary care allowance was received for the person in question on the 30th August 2010. This application was referred to one of the Department's Medical Assessors who found that the child was not medically eligible for the allowance. A letter issued on the 5th October 2010 where the customer was advised of the decision. Where a person is not satisfied with the decision of a Deciding Officer he/she may appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. As yet, no appeal has been registered against this decision.