Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 437: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in dealing with an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13. [27813/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned has been referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing in the case. The person concerned will be notified when the necessary arrangements have been made. There has been a 46% increase in the number of appeals received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office in 2009 when compared to 2008, which in itself was 27% greater than the numbers received in 2007. There has been an increase of a further 43% in the number of appeals received to the end of May 2010. These increases have caused delays in the processing of appeals. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.