Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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326. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views regarding the decision to substantially reduce a weekly personal rate of jobseeker's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Louth, noting that the decision has had serious financial implications on the household; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17409/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Following a review of the jobseeker’s allowance claim of the person concerned, his weekly means were re-assessed by a Deciding Officer of the Department as €107.00 per week based on his spouse’s earnings for employment.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was received in that office on 19 February 2014. 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 10 March 2014 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.