Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on domiciliary care allowance will be made in respect of a person (details supplied). [40866/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal in respect of the person concerned was registered in that office on 9th March 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. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on the 25th July 2012 and the case has been referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if required, 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.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a domiciliary care allowance appeal in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Cork. [40872/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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An application for domiciliary care allowance was received on the 25th October 2011. This application was referred to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors who found that the child was not medically eligible for the allowance. A letter issued on the 12th January 2012 advising of the decision.

The person concerned has appealed the decision, as part of the appeal process the case has been forwarded to another of the Department’s Medical Assessors for further consideration, including a review of any new information supplied. Upon receipt of the Medical Assessor’s opinion, the case will be further examined and will be forwarded for consideration by the Appeals Office, if necessary.