206. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection when it is expected a decision will issue on a disability allowance appeal (details supplied). [37115/24]

The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 20th March 2024. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. Upon receipt of the Social Welfare Appeals Office's request for these papers with the additional information received from the person concerned, the Disability Allowance Section carried out a review of the original decision in the light of additional information provided and decided that the case should be awarded. The person concerned was issued with an award letter from the Disability Allowance Section dated 16th September 2024 and the appeal was withdrawn.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.