Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 378: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the current position regarding a domiciliary care allowance appeal and a carer's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cavan; if an early oral hearing will be granted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29555/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that a domiciliary care allowance appeal, by the person concerned, was registered in that office on 28th October 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 12 June 2012 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.

The carer's allowance appeal, by the person concerned, was registered in that office on 31st May 2012 and the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal were sought. Similarly, when received the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer. 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.