Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 October 2011
233 Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive a hearing date for all three appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28275/11]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the three appeals, from the person concerned, were referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing in all three cases.
There has been a very significant increase in the number of appeals received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office since 2007 when the intake was 14,070 to 2010 when the intake rose to 32,432. This has significantly impacted on the processing time for appeals which require oral hearings and, in order to be fair to all appellants, they are dealt with in strict chronological order. In the context of dealing with the considerable number of appeals now on hand, the Department made 9 additional appointments to the office earlier this year. While every effort is being made to deal with the large numbers awaiting oral hearing as quickly as possible, it is not possible to give a date when the person's oral hearing will be heard, but s/he will be informed when arrangements have been made.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
