Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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194. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite a social welfare appeal hearing, in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath regarding the refusal of a claim for disability allowance due to a reclassification of a research grant, which is being classified by the deciding officer as income in the hand of the recipient rather than expenses to enable them to continue their research and if this appeal can now be expedited due to the impact it is having upon this person’s ability to complete their educational qualification as part of a rehabilitation process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51954/13]

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 21 October 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 papers 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.

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.