Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 240: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was informed that their illness benefit appeal case had been referred for an oral hearing; the reason it is taking so long for this oral hearing to be scheduled; and the date and time of when the oral hearing will be heard. [40354/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Further to my response to PQ 39068/08 on 6 November 2008, I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the person concerned was notified on 2 September 2008 that her case was referred to an Appeals Officer and that it was proposed to hold an oral hearing in her case. A time and date has not yet been arranged for her hearing, but every effort is being made to have it dealt with as quickly as possible.

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 all appeals 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.