Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 310: To ask the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No 213 of 8 November 2011, if she will expedite and approve an application for rent allowance now under appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) taking into consideration that the current accommodation is not wheelchair friendly, has no downstairs bedroom or toilet facility, cannot be adapted and the local authority is unable to provide suitable alternative accommodation; the action she will take to address the situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34374/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Following on from the transfer of the Community Welfare Service from the Health Services Executive (HSE) to the Department of Social Protection, with effect from Saturday 1st October legislation was commenced which provides that appeals for supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) will be made to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. Up to now, the legislation provided for a 2 step process, first to the Health Services Executive (HSE) and, if still dissatisfied, to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

As part of that process, any appeals that have been submitted in recent weeks to the HSE are being transferred to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. These appeals will be registered and acknowledged by the Social Welfare Appeals Office in due course. In this case, I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an appeal for SWA for the person concerned has not yet been registered. The Chief Appeals Officer has assured me that all appropriate measures are being taken to address the smooth transfer of SWA appeals to her office. 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.