The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
Appeals legislation provides that it is a matter for an Appeals Officer to decide whether an appeal can be fairly determined by means of a summary decision or if an oral hearing is required. In addition it is open to an appellant to request an oral hearing of their appeal. If an oral hearing is requested it will generally be given, except in cases where there is nothing manifestly to be gained from such a hearing, for example where the appeal question relates to PRSI contribution conditions or means and the underlying calculations are not being contested.
The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following table.
Year
|
Number of Appeal Decisions finalised by way of Oral Hearing
|
2016
|
6,527
|
2017
|
5,412
|
2018
|
5,397
|
2019 - 1st January to April 30th
|
1,698
|
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.