Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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317. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made on the appeal of a refusal of a disability allowance (details supplied); if an oral hearing will be granted in this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23699/24]

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 1 February 2024. 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 11 March 2024.

Under the governing legislation the decision on whether or not to hold an oral hearing is at the discretion of the Appeals Officer to whom an appeal has been assigned. The case was referred to an Appeals Officer on 19 March 2024, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing. The Appeals Officer has been contacted to expedite this case.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.