Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) may expect to have their medical file reviewed for carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10867/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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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 March 2011. 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.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The application for carer's allowance by the person concerned was received on the 26 January 2011. On the 25 February 2011, following examination of the medical evidence by a medical assessor, she was refused on the grounds that the care recipient is not so disabled as to require full time care and attention as prescribed in regulations. She was notified of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review or appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).

Additional medical evidence was received and was examined by a medical assessor. However, this information did not alter the opinion of the medical assessor and, accordingly the deciding officer's decision remains unchanged. On 14 April 2011 she was notified of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of appeal to the SWAO.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason habitual residence was denied to a person (details supplied); when a decision will issue regarding an appeal of this decision; in examining the appeal, if she will consider the nationality, the ownership of a principle residence here and the fact that other family members reside here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10892/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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A claim for Jobseeker's Allowance by the person concerned was disallowed by the Deciding Officer on the grounds that he did not satisfy the Habitual Residence Condition.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing in this case.

There has been a very significant increase in the number of appeals received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office since 2007 when the intake was 14,070 to 2010 when the intake rose to 32,432. This has significantly impacted on the processing time for appeals which require oral hearings and, in order to be fair to all appellants, they are dealt with in strict chronological order. In the context of dealing with the considerable number of appeals now on hands, the Department has made a further 9 additional appointments to the office in recent weeks.

While every effort is being made to deal with the large numbers awaiting oral hearing as quickly as possible, it is not possible to give a date when the person's oral hearing will be heard, but he will be informed when arrangements have been made.

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.