Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 290: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a decision will be made on an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Mayo for a retrospective payment of unemployment assistance from 17 December 2005 to 8 February 2006; and the outcome of the appeal lodged by this person. [11929/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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A claim for unemployment assistance by the person concerned was disallowed by the deciding officer on the grounds that she has not shown there was good cause for delay in making her claim and that she has failed to prove that she was unemployed, capable, available and genuinely seeking employment during the period in question. She has been in receipt of unemployment assistance since 8 February 2006.

The person appealed against this decision to the social welfare appeals office and, in accordance with the statutory requirements, the relevant departmental papers and comments of my Department were sought. These are now to hand and the case has been referred to an appeals officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing. The person will be informed as soon as the arrangements for the hearing are in place. Under social welfare legislation decisions in relation to 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.