Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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55. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) under the invalidity pension scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8280/16]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.

The department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on 6 January 2015. The person concerned was refused IP on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. She was notified on 5 May 2015 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.

Following the submission of additional evidence by the person in question, the case was reviewed by a deciding officer on a number of occasions but the decision to disallow IP was upheld each time. The person in question appealed the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). An appeals officer (AO), having taken all available information into account, upheld the department’s decision and disallowed the appeal. The person in question was notified of the decision of the AO on 15 March 2016. The decision of an AO is final and conclusive in the absence of additional relevant evidence not available at the time of the appeal.