Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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105. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress to date in respect of an appeal for carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41683/23]

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.

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. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on the 20th May 2023. A copy of theAppeals Officer decision has been reissued to the appellant.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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106. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a decision has been made on a domiciliary care allowance appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41698/23]

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 on the 6th of July 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 on the 31st July 2023 and the case was assigned to an Appeals Officer on the 9th of August 2023. The Appeals Officer 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.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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107. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a decision has been made on the review of a decision on an illness benefit application in respect of a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41840/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department received an application for Illness Benefit from the person concerned on 31st August 2023. The person does not currently have sufficient PRSI contributions to qualify for a payment of Illness Benefit.

The person concerned indicated on their application form that they had previously worked in the UK. Their insurance record was requested from the relevant authorities in the UK on 6th September 2023. It can take up to 10 weeks to receive a reply from the UK authorities in respect of such requests. Once the details being requested are to hand, the claim can be reviewed and any payment due will be paid at the earliest opportunity.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.