Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 357: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of appeals for carer's allowance in County Donegal for the past year and the number of these that have been eventually granted carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29285/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that statistics are not maintained on a county by county basis and it is not in a position, therefore, to supply the information sought by the Deputy in relation to Donegal. Overall, a total of 2,199 carers allowance appeals were received in 2011. Of the total number of carers allowance appeals processed in 2011, 1,461 (45.7%) had a successful outcome for the appellant. Of these decisions, 618 (42.3%) were in fact revised decisions made by deciding officers of the Department who reviewed the claim following the submission of the grounds of the appeal from the appellant. These revised decisions arose as a result, in many cases, of new facts or fresh evidence produced by the claimant after the original decision on his /her claim. In such cases an Appeals Officer decision was not necessary.