Thomas Gould
Question:35. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage of domiciliary carer's allowance rejections that were overturned on appeal in Cork in 2025. [14269/26]
View answerThursday, 26 February 2026
Questions (35)
Written answers
Data in relation to the percentage of claims rejected by the Department of Social Protection which are subsequently overturned on appeal by county are not maintained.
Nationally there was a total of 4,512 domiciliary care allowance appeals finalised during 2025. Of these, 3,062 were successful which equates to 67.9%.
It is important to note that where decisions are allowed on appeal, this may not mean that the initial decision was incorrect. A decision can be revised because the person making an appeal provides additional information which was not made available when the decision was first made. The appeals process allows for this. Of the 3,062 domiciliary care allowance appeals that had a successful outcome, 1,482 were made by way of revised decision by Deciding Officers based on new information rather than going through the full appeals process.
If the original decision remains unchanged following the appeal-related review/re-examination by a Deciding Officer, the appeal case is submitted to the Social Welfare Appeals Office for determination by an Appeals Officer.
A full breakdown of appeal outcomes, including Domiciliary Care Allowance appeals will be available in the 2025 Social Welfare Appeals Office Annual Report which is due to be published later this year. The Annual Report for 2024 and previous years are available in the Social Welfare Appeals Office Annual Reports at the following website News and Publications from the Social Welfare Appeals Office (www.gov.ie/en/social-welfare-appeals-office/collections/news-and-publications-from-the-social-welfare-appeals-office/).
I have instructed officials in my Department to carry out a review of the DCA application process to ensure that is it empathetic, efficient and robust, and does not cause any unnecessary burden to those who seek this vital support.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.