Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 March 2023
455. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection if a case of a family (details supplied) in which a child with multiple diagnoses, who has been refused several financial aides for supporting said child's medical condition can be examined and resolved. [11620/23]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, decided to disallow the domiciliary care allowance appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision on 19 August 2022. Under social welfare legislation a decision of the Appeals Officer is generally final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by the Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new facts, or where there has been a change of circumstances which has come to notice since the date of the Appeals Officer's original decision.
I am advised that the person concerned has submitted additional medical evidence and that the Appeals Officer has agreed to review the case. The person concerned has also requested an oral hearing and I am advised that this request will be granted.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office will contact the person concerned in the near future to arrange the oral hearing.
The other matters raised by the Deputy in his question are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
