Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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892. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will issue in relation to an appeal submitted by a person (details supplied) in June 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16896/23]

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 Department issued a decision to the person concerned in relation to her Carer's Allowance on 23rd May 2022.  The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal of this decision was received in that office on 16th June 2022. 

On receiving information from the person concerned, the Department reviewed the decision of 23rd May 2022 and issued a new decision on 14th June 2022.  The grounds for the appeal no longer subsisted and the appeal was withdrawn.  The revised decision of 14th June 2022 has yet to be appealed by the person concerned and the Social Welfare Appeals have contacted her regarding this matter.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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893. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an update and/or decision will issue on the parent benefit appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16899/23]

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 received in that office on 4th October 2022.  It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought.  Those papers were received in the Appeals Office on 12th April 2023 and the case was referred to an Appeals Officer on the 13th April 2023 who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.