Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 297: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the medical grounds on which the application for carer's allowance was refused in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if this parliamentary question will be taken as notice of an appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31371/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The person concerned was refused carer's allowance on the grounds that the care recipients are not so disabled as to require full- time care and attention as prescribed in regulations. On 12th October 2011, she was notified of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review or appeal within 21 days.

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that a form for the opening of an appeal has been forwarded to the person concerned and requesting her to state the grounds for her appeal. On receipt of her reply the appeal will be opened and processed in the normal manner.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 298: To ask the Minister for Social Protection, further to Parliamentary Question No 107 of the 13 October 2011, the full mortgage repayments, including interest, involved; if payments of mortgage or part thereof have been suspended; if the circumstances in the case will be further reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31372/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The community welfare service (CWS), and the community welfare officers providing it, formally transferred to the Department of Social Protection (DSP) from 1 October 2011. The service and the staff are now part of the DSP. The purpose of mortgage interest supplement is to provide short term income support to eligible people who are unable to meet their mortgage interest repayments in respect of a house which is their sole place of residence. The supplement assists with the interest portion of the mortgage repayments only. The position remains as advised in question number 107 which I answered for the Deputy on 13th October 2011, which is that the person concerned was refused mortgage interest supplement as she has sufficient income to meet her mortgage interest costs.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned were registered in that office on 5th September 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 September 2011 and the appeal was assigned to an Appeals Officer on 12th October 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.