Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on a disability allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [54732/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal for Illness Benefit from the person concerned was assessed by a Medical Assessor of the Department of Social Protection who was of the opinion that she was capable of work. She appealed this decision and in that context the appeal was assessed by another Medical Assessor who also expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. In the light of this, it was decided to afford the person concerned an opportunity of setting out the complete and up to date grounds of her appeal and to furnish any further medical evidence that she wished to submit in support of her appeal. She did this and, at this stage, the Department of Social Protection have been requested to submit relevant documents to this office on her case.

On receipt of their response her appeal will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision in the case or arrange an oral hearing if warranted. 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.