Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 13 May 1999

Vol. 504 No. 6

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Appeals.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

69 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will give a breakdown of an appeal for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and the reason the application for disability allowance was refused. [12513/99]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

To qualify for disability allowance a person must be suffering from a specified disability as a result of which she or he is substantially handicapped in undertaking employment which would otherwise be suitable having regard to his or her age, experience and qualifications.

The person concerned was examined by a medical assessor of my Department on 20 October 1998 who considered that she did not satisfy the medical criteria for receipt of disability allowance. Her application was, accordingly, refused by a deciding officer and she was notified of this decision and the reasons for it.

She appealed this decision and was re-examined by another medical assessor on the 14 December 1998 who also considered that she was not medically eligible for receipt of disability allowance.

Following an oral hearing of her appeal, an appeals officer disallowed her appeal. In giving his decision, the appeals officer indicated that he was not satisfied that the person concerned is substantially handicapped and incapable of undertaking suitable employment by reason of a specified disability.

An appeals officer's decision is final and conclusive in the absence of new evidence or new facts or any change of circumstances since the decision was given.