Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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248. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in issuing a date for a carer's allowance oral hearing appeal to a person (details supplied); if consideration will be given to the fact that the person is under financial pressure and requires the oral hearing as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15303/17]

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 12 January 2017. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers have been received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 14 March 2017 and the case will be referred within the next week to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral 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.