Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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312. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the processing of a section 317 review will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14741/25]

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 Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, decided to disallow the carer's allowance appeal of the person concerned on 19th May 2023.

Under social welfare legislation a decision of an Appeals Officer is generally final and conclusive. However, it may be reviewed by an Appeals Officer under Section 317 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 in the light of new evidence or new facts.

Further medical information was received in relation to this appeal and as a result a Section 317 Review of the appeal officer's decision was opened. Having considered the new information provided, it was decided that a review of the decision was not warranted and the appeal remained disallowed. The customer was notified on 23rd March 2024.

On 22nd April 2024 the customer requested a second Section 317 Review. Having considered the new information provided, it was decided that a review of the decision was not warranted and the appeal remained disallowed. The customer was notified on 25th October 2024.

The customer was also advised in this letter that if their circumstances had changed since the original carer's allowance application was made in 2022, it is open to them to make a new application directly to carer's allowance section.

On 13th November 2024 a third Section 317 was carried out. Having considered the new information provided, it was decided that a review of the decision was not warranted and the appeal remained disallowed. The customer was notified on 24th March 2025.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.