Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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139. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) under the illness benefit scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19977/16]

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 4 July 2016 and the Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that, in accordance with statutory requirements, the Department has 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 will be carried out. When these have been received from the Department, the case in question will 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.

Budget 2015 marked the point where expenditure reductions were no longer required to meet our fiscal targets. Gross voted expenditure has grown by an average of 2½% annually in since the end of 2014. The fiscal projections in the Summer Economic Statement (SES) are consistent with the Programme for a Partnership Government commitment to spend at least €6.75 billion more on public services in 2021 compared to 2016. Investment in public infrastructure is vital for the medium and long-term competitiveness of the economy as well as for underpinning social cohesion through the provision of vital services to the public such as schools, public transport and housing. A cumulative additional €5.1 billion is allocated to capital spending in the SES over the period to 2021, in addition to the increases set out in the Public Capital Plan published in September last year.