Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 347: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when his Department hold oral hearings on appeals; the way the locations are determined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22765/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Appeals are determined by Appeals Officers attached to the Social Welfare Appeals Office of my Department and who are independent in their determinations.

I am advised by that Office that oral hearings are held every week at venues around the country as convenient as possible to the appellant.

The selection of locations to be visited is based on the number of appeals on hand in a particular area in a given week. In general, those who are waiting longest can expect to be scheduled for hearing when next an Appeals Officer is in the area. A small number of cases are given special priority when exceptional circumstances arise.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office deals with about 14,000 appeals on an annual basis and the provision of a prompt service remains a major customer service objective for the Office. Available resources are prioritized to the greatest possible extent so as to achieve the best possible standard of service to its customers.