Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 352: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she has received a domiciliary care allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; when this appeal will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27195/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The claim for domiciliary care allowance, by the person concerned, was disallowed by a Deciding Officer of the Department in July 2009. I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that in the normal course, an appeal against the decision of a Deciding Officer must be made within 21 days of that decision being notified. Appeals received outside of this time limit may be accepted at the discretion of the Chief Appeals Officer. This limit is not rigidly enforced but in view of the length of time which has elapsed since the person concerned was notified of the decision of the Deciding Officer, it is considered that the acceptance of an appeal would not be warranted at this late stage. 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.