Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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249. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal by a person (details supplied) which was furnished on 17 May 2016 and wherein a decision was made on 22 November 2016 without an oral hearing being afforded to this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38830/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal relating to the Illness Benefit application of the person concerned was initially disallowed by an Appeals Officer by way of a summary decision.

A summary decision may be made where an Appeals Officer is of the opinion that the case is of such a nature that it can be determined on the basis of documentary evidence and without oral hearing.

However, the file has been recalled from the Department of Social Protection and will be returned to the Appeals Officer to determine if the appeal should be reviewed and if an oral hearing should be convened in order to facilitate that review.

The person concerned will shortly be informed of the Appeals Officer’s decision.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.