Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 February 2012
330 Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Social Protection when a domiciliary care allowance appeal will be processed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9234/12]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that following the submission of additional evidence, in this case, the Appeals Officer has revised his decision and has allowed the appeal. The person concerned has been notified of the revised decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
331 Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal for invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Louth; in view of the time elapsed since the original application, can the appellant be granted an oral hearing as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9235/12]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer having fully considered all the available evidence disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of the Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by the Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new facts. Following the submission of additional evidence the Appeals Officer has agreed to review the case. The person concerned will be contacted when the review of his appeal has been finalised.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
332 Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal in respect of a cut to disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 16; if she will provide a timeframe for when this appeal will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9246/12]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was assessed by a Medical Assessor of the Social Welfare Services who was of the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed this decision and in that context the appeal was assessed by another Medical Assessor who also expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.
In the light of this, it was decided to afford the person concerned an opportunity of setting out the complete and up to date grounds of his appeal and to furnish any further medical evidence that he wished to submit in support of his appeal. These have been received and the disability allowance section of the Department has been requested to submit relevant documents to this office on his case. On receipt of their response his appeal will be referred to an Appeals Officer for consideration. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
