Written answers

Tuesday, 28 June 2011

Department of Social Protection

Social Welfare Appeals

8:00 pm

Photo of Seán KennySeán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 287: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason an application for jobseeker's allowance was disallowed in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [17659/11]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The person concerned was in receipt of jobseeker's allowance from 10 July 2009 to 10 May 2011.

This person's jobseeker's allowance claim was reviewed by the local office in February 2011. As part of this review, she was interviewed by a Social Welfare Inspector, and asked to produce relevant documentation. The person did not supply the documentation requested and, as a result, the claim was suspended on 10 May 2011. There is currently an appeal on this claim with the local office.

Photo of Martin HeydonMartin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Question 288: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a date can be provided for an oral hearing on a carer's allowance appeal in respect of a person provided (details supplied) in County Kildare; when a decision will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17661/11]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing in this case.

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 has made a further 9 additional appointments to the office in recent weeks.

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.

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