Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22 may expect to receive notice of date in respect of their employment appeals tribunal hearing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11959/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Employment Appeals Tribunal (the Tribunal) is independent in the exercise of its quasi-judicial function and I have no direct involvement in its day to day operations. However, having made enquiries, I understand that the Tribunal received a claim from the person concerned on 21 April 2011.

The Tribunal has seen a significant increase in its caseload in recent years, as it is one of the front-line services directly impacted upon by the economic downturn. This has had the unfortunate consequence of increasing the time it takes for a claimant to have his or her case heard. All appeals are listed for hearing in accordance with their date of lodgment with the Tribunal. The current estimated waiting period for Tribunal hearings is approximately 67 weeks from the date of application. This period is subject to fluctuation, depending on the rate with which existing cases are disposed of.

I regret the lengthy delays that are currently being experienced.

With this in mind, I would add however that the functions and outputs of the Tribunal are being addressed in the context of my planned reform of the State's employment rights and industrial relations structures and institutions. I expect this reform and streamlining project to deliver a measurable improvement in the quality of services provided to users of the State's employment rights/industrial relations dispute resolution services and reduce the burden of accessing such services for users and reduce costs to the State.