Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 438: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when the appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be heard; the way in which his Department could assess this person as having an overpayment of €17,500 when it was notified of all the changes in this person's circumstances. [22011/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment assistance from September 1998. Following a review of her entitlement in January 2005, a deciding officer made a revised decision disallowing her claim from 25 February 2002 to 30 November 2004 on the grounds that her means, derived from her partner's income, were in excess of the statutory limit for payment of unemployment assistance applicable to a person with her family size and circumstances. As a result of that decision, she is deemed to have been overpaid €17,233.60.

She appealed this decision to the social welfare appeals office and her case has been considered by an appeals officer who is of the opinion that an oral hearing is required. This will be arranged as soon as possible. The appeals officer will consider all the grounds advanced by the person in the context of her appeal. Under social welfare legislation, decisions on claims must be made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.