Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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351. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the decision on a treatment benefit medical appliances application will be reviewed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46083/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Treatment Benefit Scheme provides dental, optical and aural services to insured workers, the self-employed, retired people and their dependent spouse/partner who have the required number of social insurance (PRSI) contributions.

The person concerned does not qualify for treatment benefit in her own right.

The person will, however, qualify for Treatment Benefit under her spouse's social insurance record and has been advised of same.

I trust this clarifies matters for the deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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352. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress to date in determination of an appeal for carers allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46086/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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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 31 August 2023. 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 papers 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 necessary, hold an oral appeal hearing.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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353. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an application for widow’s pension will be reviewed (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46170/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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One of the criteria for widow(er)'s & surviving civil partner's contributory pension, is that the applicant must be the legal spouse, or civil partner, of the deceased. For marriages that took place outside Ireland, we require the original civil marriage certificate, that shows the civil status of the parties to the marriage.

The person concerned submitted a photocopy of a church marriage certificate from Zambia. A church certificate confirms that a marriage is recognised by the church, but does not necessarily mean it is recognised legally. Contact details for the Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Zambia have been provided to the person concerned. If their renewed attempt to obtain an original civil marriage certificate from the Registrar General is unsuccessful, they should forward confirmation to my Department of the efforts made and any relevant correspondence.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.