Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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48. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) under the illness benefit scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8246/16]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Payment of illness benefit, to the person concerned, was disallowed by a Deciding Officer following an examination by a Medical Assessor of the Department who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work.

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an appeal by the person concerned was registered on 25 February 2016. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. In that context, an examination by another Medical Assessor will be carried out on 10 May 2016.

The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the examination.

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 on social welfare entitlements.