John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 329: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a date for an oral hearing will be arranged in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny and if she will expedite the matter. [15541/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing in this case. There has been a very significant increase in the number of appeals received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office since 2007 when the intake was 14,070 to 2010 when the intake rose to 32,432. This has significantly impacted on the processing time for appeals which require oral hearings and, in order to be fair to all appellants, they are dealt with in strict chronological order. In the context of dealing with the considerable number of appeals now on hand, the Department has made a further 9 additional appointments to the office in recent weeks.

While every effort is being made to deal with the large numbers awaiting oral hearing as quickly as possible, it is not possible to give a date when the person's oral hearing will be heard, but she will be informed when arrangements have been made. 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.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 330: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if an appeal for jobseeker's allowance will be expedited and approved in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [15542/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The community welfare service in the Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that they have not received a formal application for Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA). I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer having fully considered all the evidence, has allowed the Jobseeker's Allowance appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the decision. 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.