Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 130: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36428/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the disability allowance claim of the person concerned was disallowed following an assessment by a Medical Assessor who expressed the opinion that he was medically unsuitable for the allowance. An appeal was registered on 02 November 2011 and in accordance with the statutory procedures the relevant department papers and the comments of the Social Welfare services on the matter raised in the appeal have been sought. In that context, an assessment by another Medical Assessor will be carried out. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 131: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a claim for invalidity pension; if initial medical evidence has been submitted in support of an appeal of the Department's decision of 25 October in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36430/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the invalidity pension claim of the person concerned was disallowed following an assessment by a Medical Assessor who expressed the opinion that she was medically unsuitable for the allowance. An appeal was registered on 14 November 2011 and in accordance with the statutory procedures the relevant department papers and the comments of the Social Welfare services on the matter raised in the appeal have been sought. In that context, an assessment by another Medical Assessor will be carried out. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 132: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the distress caused to the parents of a child (details supplied) from County Kilkenny, in respect of an application for domiciliary care allowance; if she will review this case as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36431/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received on 6 March 2010. This application was referred to one of the Department's Medical Assessors who found that the child was not medically eligible for DCA. A letter issued on 22 April 2010 advising of the decision to refuse the allowance. The person concerned subsequently lodged an appeal against this decision and she was informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 8 November 2010 that the appeal had not been allowed. The decision/appeal process for this application is now complete. All the available information was provided to the appeals officer before the appeal was considered. However, if the person concerned has new or additional information, it is open to her to re-apply.

Brendan Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 133: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an appeal against a decision not to award illness benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; if she will grant an early oral hearing; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36469/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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.