Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 April 2015
241. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to an application for carer's allowance which was refused in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny, if she will arrange an oral hearing; if the oral hearing will be expedited in view of the fact the case is urgent. [15294/15]
View answerI confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person in question on the 24th June 2014. The person in question was refused CA as a deciding officer, having reviewed the evidence provided, found that full time care and attention as required for CA were not being provided by the person concerned. She was notified of this decision on the 25th September 2014, the reasons for it and of her right of review or appeal.
The person concerned appealed this decision and the case was submitted to the Social Welfare Appeals Office for determination. An appeals officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, disallowed the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned was notified on 21st January 2015 of the appeals officer’s decision and the reason(s) for it.
Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of an appeals officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by the appeals officer in the light of new evidence or new facts which were not available at the time of the decision. It is open to the person in question to submit a new application for carer's allowance and this will be processed in the normal way.
