Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 February 2023
471. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the inordinate delay in processing an appeal for a domiciliary care allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8306/23]
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.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 25 August 2022. 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. These papers were returned to the Appeals Office on 03 October 2022 and referred on 28 October 2022 to an Appeals Officer, who having fully considered all of the available evidence, decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on 13 February 2023.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
