Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 183: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will reinstate the carer's allowance that was granted in April 2011 to a person (details supplied) in County Cork, which was returned in error to the Department due to it being delivered to the wrong house; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38736/11]

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 6 October 2011. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Social Welfare Services on the grounds of appeal be sought. When received, the appeal in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer for consideration. 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.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 184: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo receive a reply in respect of their carer's allowance appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38745/11]

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 02 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 23 September 2011 and the appeal has been 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.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 185: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38752/11]

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 15 November 2011. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Social Welfare Services on the grounds of appeal be sought. When received, the appeal in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer for consideration. 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.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 186: To ask the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 148 of 17 November 2011, if she will facilitate an appeal and review under section 311 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 against the previous decision with a view to clarification of the sequence of events and the extent of information provided over a series of months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38754/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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For the reasons stated in my response to Parliamentary Question Ref. No. 35427/11 on 17 November 2011, the claim of the person concerned for rent supplement was disallowed by an Appeals Officer of the Community Welfare Service of the Health Service Executive on 23 May 2011. The person was informed of his right to a further appeal to the Chief Appeals Officer and that such appeal must be made, in writing, within 21 days of the date of that decision. I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that no appeal by the person concerned has been received by that 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.