Vol. 532 No. 2
172 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason the file of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 has not been provided to the appeals office despite its request of 18 December 2001; and if he will take steps to expedite this matter immediately. [7014/01]
Under social welfare legalisation decisions in relation to claims must be made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.
The person concerned applied for orphan's contributory allowance in respect of her grand-daughter on 23 March 2000. The claim was disallowed by a deciding officer on 22 November 2000 on the grounds that the child is not an orphan within the meaning of the legislation relating to this scheme.
The person concerned appealed the deciding officer's decision to the social welfare appeals office on 11 December 2000. However, this notice of appeal was mislaid and a further letter of appeal was received from the person concerned on 28 February 2001.
