Brendan Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an appeal against a decision not to award jobseeker's allowance and supplementary welfare allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; if she will grant an early oral hearing; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36477/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the Jobseeker's Allowance and Supplementary Welfare Allowance appeals from the person concerned have been referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing in these cases. 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.

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 s/he 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.