George Lawlor (Wexford, Labour)
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685. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when he expects a decision will be made on an appeal for a domiciliary care allowance for a person (details supplied) who submitted the appeal in May 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2900/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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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 30th May 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 have been received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 18th June 2024.

This case is currently with an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing.

Significant efforts and resources have been devoted to reforming the appeal process in recent years and further improvements in appeals processing times are a priority for the Chief Appeals Officer. There is active engagement between the Appeals Office and the Department to ensure that the appeals process operates efficiently and additional resource have been provide for this purpose to the Appeals service.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.