Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 259: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12371/12]

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 15 February 2012. 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. When received, the appeal in question will be referred in due course 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.

Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 260: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; if she will expedite the processing of the appeal; if she will confirm the reasons their application for disability payment was refused in the first instance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12417/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The disability allowance claim, of the person concerned, was disallowed by a Deciding Officer following an assessment by a Medical Assessor of the Department who expressed the opinion that she was medically unsuitable for the allowance.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 20 July 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 25 January 2012 and the appeal was assigned to an Appeals Officer for consideration on 14 February 2012. 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.