Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an appeal that was lodged last February in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55812/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The person concerned applied for disability allowance on 3 June 2011. The medical evidence supplied with her claim was referred to one of the department’s medical assessors who was of the opinion, based on the information supplied, that the person was not medically suitable for disability allowance. The deciding officer accepted this opinion and the claim was refused and the person was notified in writing of this decision on 27 September 2011.

The person submitted further medical evidence which was referred to a second medical assessor who was also of the opinion that the person was not medically suitable for disability allowance. The deciding officer accepted this opinion and there was no change to the decision to refuse disability allowance.

The person appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office and submitted further medical evidence in support of the appeal. As part of the appeals process, the department referred all the medical evidence received including the evidence received by the Appeals office to a third medical assessor for review. When the deciding officer receives the opinion of the medical assessor a decision will be made and the appeal will be referred, if necessary, to the Social Welfare Appeals Office for determination.