Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 339: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason social welfare appellants from County Mayo have to travel to Castlerea to attend oral hearings in respect of their appeals; and his views on whether this is reasonable for appellants to have to travel outside of their county to attend a social welfare appeal in respect of carers allowance. [21629/07]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 340: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if social welfare oral hearings are being scheduled in a town (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if not. the reason for same. [21630/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 339 and 340 together.

I am advised by the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office that oral hearings are held on a regular basis Ballina, Castlebar, Claremorris, Swinford and Westport Co. Mayo.

I am further advised that the Appeals Office's policy is to hold hearings at venues as convenient as possible to the appellant. However, in exceptional circumstances, where an urgent oral hearing is required, an appeal may, with the appellant's agreement, be scheduled in an adjoining county.