Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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921. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an appeal has been registered for a person (details supplied) as requested on 11 October 2022 by this Deputy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2089/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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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. 

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 12 January 2023 following its referral from the Department.  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 were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 16 January 2023 and the case will now be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing.

Every effort will be made to process this appeal as quickly as possible.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.