Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Cavan can expect to receive a date for their Social Welfare appeal oral hearing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39833/12]

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 and 2011 when the intake rose to 32,432 and 31,241 respectively. 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.

It is anticipated that an oral hearing of this case will be scheduled in approximately four to five weeks time and the person concerned will be advised of the arrangement. 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.