Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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467. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a review of the invalidity pension application by a person (details supplied) will be carried out. [15875/22]

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

I am advised that the person concerned has submitted additional evidence and that the Department has been requested to return the file to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. This file was assigned back to an Appeals Officer on 22 March 2022 and they will now review the case. The person concerned will be contacted when the review of the appeal decision has been finalised.

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.