Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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497. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of appeals the social welfare appeals office received for domiciliary care allowance in 2015 and 2016; the outcome of those appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51691/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The following table provides the details which have been requested by the Deputy in respect of 2015 and 2016. I have also included figures for domiciliary care allowance appeal receipts and outcomes to the end of October 2017.Overall, 79.8% (924) of domiciliary care allowance appeals finalised in 2015, and 80.6% (1,344) of domiciliary care allowance appeals finalised in 2016 had a favourable outcome for the appellant, i.e. were either allowed in full or in part, or resolved by way of a revised decision by a Deciding Officer. 81.3% (529) of domiciliary care allowance appeals finalised to end of October 2017 have had a favourable outcome for the appellant.

There are a number of reasons why a decision which was refused at first instance might be successful on appeal and it is not necessarily the case that the first decision was wrong.

Where new evidence is provided with an appeal the original decision may be revised by the Deciding Officer as was the case in 27% of favourable outcomes for domiciliary care allowance appeals in 2015, 34.9% of favourable appeal outcomes in 2016 and 39.3% of favourable appeal outcomes to end of October 2017. Where the decision is not revised in the Department in light of the appeal contentions, further evidence is often provided by the appellant as the appeal process proceeds and in addition, an Appeals Officer may gain insights when they meet the appellant in person at oral hearing which may influence the outcome of an appeal.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Outcome of Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals 2015, 2016 and 2017 (to 31/10/2017)