Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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336. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; if she will expedite same due to the hardship the person is suffering due to limited income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33462/13]

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 11 June 2013. 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 these have been received from the Department, the case 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 appeal hearing.

It is not possible to give an approximate date when a decision will be issued to the person concerned. In order to be fair to all appellants, appeals are dealt with in strict chronological order. However it is open to the person concerned to contact their local Community Welfare Service concerning their possible eligibility for Supplementary Welfare Allowance if their income is insufficient to meet their needs while their appeal is pending. 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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.