Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 336: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a decision will be made on a social welfare appeal regarding persons (details supplied) in County Monaghan; if she is satisfied with the length of time it has taken to deal with this appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21453/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The claim for jobseeker's allowance, by the person concerned, was refused by a Deciding Officer of the Department on the grounds that he did not satisfy the statutory means test for the allowance. An appeal was opened on 15 April 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 Officers comments on the grounds of appeal.

The relevant documentation was received on 17 November 2008 and the case was considered by an Appeals Officer on 6 January 2009 who decided to hold an oral hearing which took place on 31 March 2009. At the hearing both the Department and the Citizens Information Board, who were representing the person concerned, were afforded the opportunity to make further submissions. The Appeals Officer received the last of these submissions on 7 May 2009 and is presently considering the case. The Chief Appeals Officer will write to the Deputy when the appeal has been determined.

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that every effort is made to treat all 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.