Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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746. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason there is a delay in processing the appeal of the rejection of an application by a person (details supplied) for a carer's allowance. [25556/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 15 June 2016. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers 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 trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.