Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 231: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly. [33052/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The person concerned was refused carer's allowance on grounds that the care recipient is not so disabled as to require full- time care and attention as prescribed in regulations. On 7 October 2011, she was notified of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review or appeal within 21 days. Additional medical evidence was received on 24 October and has been forwarded to the Department's medical assessor for review. She will be notified directly of the outcome of the review in due course.

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 232: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on an appeal for disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly. [33053/11]

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.

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.