Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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Question 231: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry was refused payment of carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39615/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The carer's allowance claim of the person in question was reviewed when the care recipient reached 16 years of age and no longer qualified for domiciliary care allowance. It was decided that the care recipient no longer satisfied the medical criteria for receipt of carer's allowance.

Additional medical evidence was subsequently received and assessed but, based upon the opinion of the department's medical assessor, the deciding officer decided that there was no grounds to revise the original decision. She was notified of this decision and the reason for it.

The person concerned again furnished further medical evidence which was also referred to the medical assessor on for consideration. However, again it was decided that no grounds existed to revise the original decision.

Accordingly, on 5 December 2011, payment of carer's allowance was stopped. She has been notified of this decision and the reason for it.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 232: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a back to school clothing and footwear payment to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [39626/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) scheme operates from the beginning of June until the end of September each year. The scheme closed on 30 September 2011 and late applications were accepted until the end October 2011.

No application for BSCFA has been received from the person concerned.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 233: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford. [39628/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The person concerned was refused carer's allowance on two separate grounds, firstly that the care recipient is not so invalided or disabled as to require full-time care and attention as laid down in legislation and secondly that he has not established that he is providing full time care and attention as laid down in the carer's allowance guidelines. On 14 July 2011 he was notified of this decision the reasons for it.

The person in question appealed the decision and submitted additional medical evidence in support of his claim. The medical aspect of his application was approved. However an appeals officer, having fully considered all the evidence, disallowed the appeal as it had not been established that he was providing full- time care. He was notified of the decision on his appeal on 2 September 2011.

The decision of an appeals officer is final and may only be reviewed in the light of new evidence or new facts not already presented at the time of appeal.