Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection the date on which a person (details supplied) in County Cork submitted their appeal in respect of a domiciliary care allowance payment; if all the relevant papers on this appeal have been lodged with the Independent Appeals Office; the average length of time such appeals are currently taking to assess and when a decision may be expected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9836/13]

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 30th November 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. When received, 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 current average times taken to process domiciliary care allowance appeals decided by summary decision is 34.9 weeks and 42.8 weeks for those requiring an oral appeal 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.