Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 102: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when an oral hearing for disability allowance will take place in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; the likely outcome of this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15977/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when an oral hearing for disability allowance will take place in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; the likely outcome of this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15985/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 103 together.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 12 January 2011. 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 in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 24 March 2011 and the appeal will be referred to an Appeals Officer, in due course, who will decide whether the case can be decided on a summary basis or whether to list it for oral hearing.

Each appeal is determined on its merits and, until the matter is finalised by an Appeals Officer, it is not possible to state the likely outcome. 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.