Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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441. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the disability allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9384/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned is currently in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance.

She submitted an application for disability allowance (DA) on 2 July 2012.

The application, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds and the person in question was notified in writing of this decision on 6 October 2012. The person in question appealed this decision by the deciding officer to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).

Following due consideration, the appeal of the person in question was disallowed by an appeals officer (AO) on 3 February 2014. She was notified of this decision in writing by the SWAO on the same date. The decision of an AO is final and conclusive in absence of any fresh facts or evidence.

A complaint was made to the Ombudsman in 2014 but this was not upheld.

It is, of course, open to the person in question to make a new application for DA and her eligibility will be examined afresh, taking all available evidence into account.

I hope this clarifies the issue in question.