John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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207. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an oral hearing can be expedited for a person (details supplied) in relation to an appeal for carers allowance. [29294/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision on 14 August 2020.

In accordance with social welfare legislation, where the Appeals Officer is of the opinion that the case is of such a nature that it can properly be determined without a hearing, he or she may determine the appeal summarily. This is what occurred in the case of the appeal for the person concerned.

Under social welfare legislation, the decision of an Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by an Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new facts.

On foot of correspondence from the Deputy the Appeals Officer wrote to the person concerned on 6 October 2020 advising her that, if she has such additional evidence, she should provide it for consideration. The Appeals Officer will then determine whether a revision of the decision made on 14 August 2020 may be warranted.

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.