James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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281. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for a social protection appeal. [18206/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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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.

An appeal was registered on 24 February 2016 and the Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that, in accordance with statutory requirements, the Department had been asked to provide the documentation in the case and the Deciding Officer’s comments on the grounds of the appeal. In that context, an assessment by another Medical Assessor was carried out. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 13 June 2016 and the case will now be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral appeal 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.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.