Parliamentary Question for the Minister of Social Protection (Joan Burton TD)
For WRITTEN ANSWER on 15/04/2014
To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an appeal for domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Reply
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 13 February 2014. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral appeal hearing.
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.