Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) in County Meath who has been waiting for more than six months for a date for an oral hearing in respect of their claim for jobseekers allowance; the average length of time that applicants are waiting for such cases to be processed; the reasons for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36674/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The claim for Jobseekers Allowance by the person concerned was refused by a Deciding Officer of the Department on 25 February 2008 as his means, derived from self-employment, exceeded the statutory limit.

An appeal was opened on 28 March 2008 and I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office, that in accordance with the statutory requirements, the Department was asked for the documentation in the case and the Deciding Officer's comments on the grounds of the appeal. These have been received and his case has been referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral appeal hearing.

During 2007 the average time taken to process all appeals (i.e. those decided summarily and by way of oral hearing) was 22 weeks. However, if allowance was made for the 25% most protracted cases, the average time fell to 14.4 weeks.

In 2008, to the end of September, the Social Welfare Appeals Office has received almost 14,000 appeals, an increase of 22% in respect of the same period in the last few years. Every effort is made to treat these appeals in a fair and equitable manner and within this context to have the appeal dealt with as quickly as possible. Improving processing times remains a major objective of the Social Welfare Appeals Office. However, it is necessary at all times to ensure that progress in this regard is achieved in a manner which is not in conflict with the demands of justice and the requirement that every appeal be fully investigated and examined on all its merits.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of the Department that is independently responsible for determining appeals against decisions on Social Welfare entitlements.