Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 280: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on appeal for carer's allowance. [2260/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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1The person concerned was refused carers allowance on the grounds that the care recipient is not so disabled as to require full –time care and attention as prescribed in regulations. On 10 January 2012, she was notified of this decision and the reason(s) for it.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 281: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on an application for domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2294/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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1An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received on 14 February 2011. 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 the 30 March 2011 refusing the allowance. The person concerned subsequently lodged an appeal against this decision. She was informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 28 September 2011 that the appeal had been disallowed.

The decision/appeal process for this application is now complete. If the person concerned has additional information which was not made available to the deciding officer and appeals officer when they made their decisions, it is open to her to re-apply for the payment.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 282: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when an appeal for an increased rate of disability benefit will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [2302/12]

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.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 283: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal against a decision made with regard to one parent family payment and supplementary welfare allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2305/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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1The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that a Supplementary Welfare Allowance Appeal by the person concerned was on the basis of a revised decision on 22 December 2011.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that a One Parent Family Payment appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 7 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.