Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 October 2013
345. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question 561 of 18 September 2013, if an oral hearing can be arranged in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40524/13]
View answerFurther to my response to Parliamentary Questions Ref. No. 37064/13 and 39306/13 for answer on 18 September 2013 and 24 September 2013 respectively, I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the position in relation to the person concerned as outlined in those replies is unchanged. The person concerned was invited, by means of a letter to his home address, to attend an oral hearing on two separate occasions and failed to attend on both occasions. The Appeals Officer then decided that he would determine the appeal summarily taking account of the documentary evidence presented by the person concerned and by the Department and the appeal was disallowed. 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.
