Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin North Central, Labour)
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Question 256: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason an application for supplementary welfare allowance was denied in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25838/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, the Community Welfare division of the Health Service Executive (HSE) may make a single payment to meet an exceptional need to people on social welfare or HSE payments.

The principal consideration in making a single payment of SWA to address a particular need is that the need to be met must be exceptional. Payments should arise only under abnormal conditions and should not become a regular or standard practice. Thus, an exceptional needs payment should be a single payment to meet an unforeseen and/or special need which cannot be met from a client's basic income.

The person concerned has recently received a number of ENPs from the HSE, however in one instance a payment was refused due to the nature of the particular application. The person concerned has been advised of his right to appeal the decision to refuse the ENP in this instance.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 257: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will reconsider her decision to refuse carer's allowance respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25852/11]

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 4th April 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 21st July 2011 and the appeal was assigned to an Appeals Officer on 21st September 2011 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.