Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) and if she will review same. [46815/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Invalidity pension is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the contribution conditions. This department received a claim for invalidity pension for the person concerned on 5 January 2012. The medical evidence provided by the claimant in support of her claim was examined by a medical assessor who was of the opinion that the person concerned is not eligible for invalidity pension as she does not satisfy the medical criteria. The application for invalidity pension was disallowed by a deciding officer. The person in question was notified of this decision and the reason for it on 11 May 2012.

Further medical evidence was subsequently submitted by the claimant. This additional evidence, along with the original information, was evaluated by a different medical assessor who also expressed the opinion that the person concerned does not satisfy the medical criteria. Accordingly, the deciding officer has confirmed the original decision and the claimant was notified of the outcome on 11 June 2012.

The person concerned appealed the decision and submitted further medical evidence which was forwarded to a different medical assessor for evaluation. Having evaluated this new medical evidence and all the previous medical evidence available, the medical assessor again expressed the opinion that the claimant did not satisfy the medical criteria for invalidity pension. All relevant papers have now been forwarded to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office for a determination.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an appeal on a invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46818/12]

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 27th September 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 who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the 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.