Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 July 2023
274. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which oral hearings in respect of appeals against disallowance for various payments are up to date; the number of oral hearing appeals that have taken place to date in 2023; how this compares with the past five years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33371/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
Under Article 13 of the Social Welfare (Appeals) Regulations, 1998 (S.I. 108/1998), if an Appeals Officer is of the opinion that the case is of such a nature that it can be properly determined without a hearing, the appeal may be determined summarily. Once it is decided to hold an oral hearing it can usually be scheduled and held in a timely manner.
An oral hearing may be held online, by phone or, where it is deemed essential by the Appeals Officer, on an in-person basis.
Appeals Officers use telephone contact and written correspondence to gather additional information or seek clarification which might previously have been ascertained in the course of an oral hearing. This has reduced the need to conduct oral hearings.
As of 6th July there are 27 appeals awaiting oral hearings and all these have been scheduled to take place in the period 10th July to 26th July.
The below table provides the number of oral hearings held for appeals for the period January to June 2023 and the preceding 5 years.
Appeal Oral Hearings
|
Jan-June 2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
2018 |
|
292 |
813 |
1,015 |
1,648 |
5,711 |
5,287 |
Oral hearing arrangements will continue to be kept under regular review by the Chief Appeals Officer.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
