The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that they were in touch with the Deputy who had agreed to withdraw the Parliamentary Question on the basis that the person concerned had in fact submitted an appeal for disability allowance and not invalidity pension.
I am also advised that the Office had written to the Deputy explaining the status of the disability allowance claim and I understand that the Deputy was satisfied with the response.
The 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 trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.