Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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230. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made on a Section 317 review request by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26785/23]

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 11 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. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 17 April 2023 and the case was referred on 9 May 2023 to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. There is no Section 317 review process in place as the AO decision has not yet been made.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.