Dan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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124. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a disability allowance review application in respect of a person (details supplied). [9999/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The person concerned was refused Disability Allowance by the Department on the grounds that they did not satisfy the medical conditionality. The Deciding Officer took into account the opinion of the Department’s Medical Assessor that the person concerned was not substantially restricted in seeking suitable employment, by reason of a specified disability, which is expected to last for a period of at least one year. The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 5^th November 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 the 6^th February 2013 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral 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.