Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will have their result of their appeal of an invalidity pension. [20641/12]

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 16 February 2012. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When received, the appeal in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer for consideration as to whether the case may be decided on a summary basis or to hold an oral hearing.

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.

Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 101: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue in relation to a carer's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20670/12]

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 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.

Accordingly, on 22 February 2012, payment of carer's allowance was stopped. She has been notified of this decision, the reason for it and her right of review and/or appeal to the Chief Appeal's Officer within 21 days.

Further medical evidence has been received and forwarded to the medical assessor for further consideration.

She will be notified directly of the outcome of the review.