James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 87: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford; if they will be issued with a medical card in the interim on health and hardship grounds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7175/12]

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 10 March 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 November 2011 and the appeal was assigned to an Appeals Officer on 12 January 2012 who will decide whether the case can be decided on a summary basis or whether to list it for oral hearing.

Decisions on eligibility for Medical Cards are a matter for the Health Service Executive and any application in that regard should be made to that body.

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.