John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 181: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason an oral hearing arranged in respect of a person (details supplied) was cancelled; and if another early date will be set for the hearing. [21660/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the person concerned cancelled the oral hearing arranged for 29 June 2011 as he was not available to attend on that day. The person concerned has been advised that the hearing will be re-scheduled and he will be informed when the 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.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 182: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if an appeal for disability allowance will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [21668/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the disability allowance claim of the person concerned was disallowed following an assessment by a Medical Assessor who expressed the opinion that he was medically unsuitable for the allowance. An appeal was registered on 13 July 2011 and in accordance with the statutory procedures the relevant department papers and the comments of the Social Welfare services on the matter raised in the appeal have been sought. 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.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 183: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when payment of arrears of carer's allowance will be paid in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [21671/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer having fully considered all the evidence, including that adduced at an oral hearing, has disallowed the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the decision.

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.

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 184: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when arrears of disability allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21679/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The person concerned applied for disability allowance on 15 September 2010. His claim was referred to one of the department's medical assessors who was of the opinion that the person was not medically suitable for disability allowance. The deciding officer accepted this opinion and his claim was refused. The person was notified in writing of this decision on 15 January 2011.

The person subsequently appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. Based on the evidence before him the appeals officer found that the person concerned was not substantially restricted in undertaking suitable employment by reason of a specified disability within the meaning of Social Welfare legislation and the appeal was not allowed. The applicant was notified of this decision in writing by the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 27 June 2011. An appeal officer's decision is final and conclusive in the absence of any fresh facts or evidence

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 185: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a carer's allowance application will be processed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21683/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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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 hand, 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 s/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.

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 186: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for a disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21690/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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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 hand, 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 s/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.