Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 250: To ask the Minister for Social Protection, further to Parliamentary Question No. 127 of 4 October 2011, when an appeal will be heard in respect of an application for carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29886/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Further to my response to Parliamentary Question Ref. No. 127 on 05 October 2011, I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that there is no update to the information given previously. 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.

Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 251: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when an appeal for carer's allowance will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29889/11]

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 16th June 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 06 October 2011 and the appeal will, in due course, be assigned to an Appeals Officer 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.