asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of appeals at present under consideration from smallholders in Kerry arising from a reduction or discontinuation in payment of their small farmer's unemployment assistance; and when the appeals will be finalised.
Written Answers - Social Welfare Appeals.
20.
The number of appeal cases under consideration in my Department in respect of applications for unemployment assistance from smallholders in Kerry is 17. This number is based on the number of appeals on hand in employment exchanges in County Kerry.'
As regards the time taken to process appeals much depends on whether further investigations of means are necessary following the lodging of an appeal. In these cases there can be delays before the appeal is finally submitted to an appeals officer. Where a case is straightforward and all inquiries have been completed or where it is possible to decide a case summarily a much shorter time scale is involved.
In the cases referred to by the Deputy additional inquiries have been necessary. Some of these have been completed and an appeals officer is scheduled to visit Kerry next week to deal with two of these. A further two cases have been recently heard and the appellants will be notified shortly of the results. The remainder will be disposed of as soon as possible.