Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 272: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on an application for invalidity pension. [2247/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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1The 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 and 2011 when the intake rose to 32,432 and 31,241 respectively. 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.

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 273: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on appeal for disability allowance. [2249/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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1I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer having fully considered all the available evidence, including that adduced at oral hearing, allowed the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer decision on 26th November 2011.

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.

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 275: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on appeal for disability allowance. [2253/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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1I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence, disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision.

Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of the Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by the Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new facts.

Following the submission of additional evidence the Appeals Officer has agreed to review the case. The person concerned will be contacted when the review of her appeal has been finalised.

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.

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 276: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on an application for domiciliary care allowance. [2255/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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4An application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on 28th September 2011. The application was refused as the child was not considered to satisfy the medical criteria. The person concerned was notified of the decision on 2nd November 2011 and they have since appealed the decision. As part of the appeal process, the application has been forwarded to another of the Department's Medical Assessors for further consideration, including a review of any new information supplied. Upon receipt of their opinion, the case will be further reviewed and will be forwarded for consideration by the Appeals Office, if necessary.