Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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240. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo may expect a disability allowance claim to be processed; the reason the application has been delayed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44218/13]

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 19^th February 2013. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 22^nd August and the case was referred to an Appeals Officer. I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that a decision will issue to the person concerned within the next week.

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.