Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 346: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be called for an oral hearing, or if a decision will be made on an appeal without an oral hearing being held. [26110/09]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 347: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be called for an oral hearing in relation to their occupational injuries benefit disablement appeal; and if so, when they will be called. [26111/09]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 348: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason, in more than seven months, a decision has not been reached in relation to a claim by a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [26112/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 346 to 348, inclusive, together.

As a result of an occupational accident, the person concerned was awarded disablement benefit by a Deciding Officer of the Department with effect from 18 April 2008. The degree of disablement benefit was set at 40% based on a medical assessment which took place on 2 September 2008. The level of the award was appealed on 4 November 2008 and I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals office that the appeal has been referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing in this case. Every effort is being made to have the appeal heard at the earliest opportunity and the person concerned will be notified when arrangements for his hearing have been made.

During 2008, the number of appeals received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office increased by 27% and current estimates indicate there will be a further increase of 18% for 2009. Having regard to these increases, I appointed two additional Appeals Officers to the Social Welfare Appeals Office in January 2009. Furthermore, in the light of the current situation, I am advised that the Chief Appeals Officer is keeping current processes under continuous review with a view to achieving a more effective throughput of appeals having regard to due process in terms of the rights of appellants and adherence to the requirements of natural justice. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of the Department that is independently responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.