Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 March 2013
174. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 301 of 15 May 2012, if she or her Department will facilitate a late appeal in respect of the refusal of an application for invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15653/13]
View answerFurther to my response to Parliamentary Question Ref. No. 24048/12 on 15 May 2012, I am advised that the person concerned has not submitted additional or supplementary medical evidence in support of his application. The Deciding Officer’s formal decision disallowing invalidity pension to the person concerned issued in October 2011. I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that in the normal course, an appeal against the decision of a Deciding Officer must be made within 21 days of that decision being notified. Therefore, the acceptance of an appeal at this late stage is not warranted. 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.
