Vol. 477 No. 2
246 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved for a disability allowance in view of the fact that a medical examination was held on 12 March 1997 and he has heard nothing since. [8975/97]
The person concerned applied for disability allowance on 13 November 1996. The allowance is paid on a weekly basis to people with a disabilitly which must be expected to last for at least one year. The allowance is subject to both a medical examination and a means test. At a medical examination conducted on 7 January 1997 the medical assessor considered that the person concerned did not satisfy the medical criteria for receipt of disability allowance.
The person's appeal was received at the social welfare appeals office on 12 February 1997 and he was examined by a different medical assessor on 12 March 1997 who also considered that he did not satisfy the medical criteria necessary for receipt of the allowance. The person concerned has been notified of the result of the latest medical examination. In the light of the evidence available the appeals officer will decide whether or not an oral hearing will be held to determine the case and the person will be notified accordingly at an early date.
