Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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378. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a person (details supplied) can expect a decision from the officer in relation to an appeal lodged for the carer's allowance; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19546/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 14 December 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. These papers were returned to the Appeals Office on 20 April 2023 and referred the same day 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.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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379. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a person (details supplied) can expect a decision from the officer in relation to an appeal lodged for a carer's allowance; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19547/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 10 February 2023. 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 1 March 2023.

The case was referred on 16 March 2023 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.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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380. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a person (details supplied) can expect a decision from the officer in relation to a financial appeal lodged for a disability allowance; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19548/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was received in that office on 11 January 2023. A letter issued to the person on 7 February 2023 requesting the grounds for the delay in submitting the appeal application as it had been submitted outside the statutory limit of 21 days following the decision being appealed. The appeal and grounds for the late appeal application were submitted to the Appeals Office on 16 February 2023 and, following consideration, the appeal was registered in the Appeals Office on 9 March 2023.

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. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will 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 appeal hearing.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.