Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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290. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on a carer's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53705/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, an appeal for the person concerned was registered on 20^th August 2013 and in accordance with the statutory requirements, the Appeals Office contacted the person concerned and asked them to set out the complete grounds of their appeal. For this purpose, a form SWAO1 was issued to person concerned on 20^th August 2013.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the grounds of appeal were received from the person concerned on the 23^rd September 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.