Guardian's Payment Appeals

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 February 2014

Thursday, 6 February 2014

Questions (106)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

106. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 129 of 5 December 2013, in the matter of entitlement in the case of a person (details supplied) County Kildare, if the fact that no contact/maintenance/correspondence exists between the mother and their child for the past three years, if the deciding officer who made the original decision in this case erred in his/her conclusions; if in the interests of natural justice the case can be revisited in view of current evidence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6101/14]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The claim of the person concerned to Guardians payment contributory was disallowed on 30 May 2012 as the deciding officer was satisfied that the care arrangements in place for the child were on foot of a private mutual agreement between the child’s mother and the applicant, and therefore the child was not deemed to be abandoned. The person concerned appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office and the Appeals Officer upheld the decision of the deciding officer on 15th March 2013. The claim will be reviewed if new facts or evidence are presented that were unavailable to the Appeals Officer.