Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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134. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of social welfare appellants who requested an oral hearing of their appeals in the years 2013 and to date in 2014; and the number of these requests which were granted resulting in an oral hearing of the appeals. [34346/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that statistics are not maintained in respect of the number of appellants who request oral hearings and it is not in a position, therefore, to supply the information sought by the Deputy. Social Welfare legislation provides that an Appeal Office may determine an appeal without an oral hearing where s/he is of the opinion that it can be determined fairly on the basis of the documentary evidence provided. However, I am advised that where an appellant requests an oral hearing, the request is generally granted unless the Appeals Officer is of the opinion that the appeal can be allowed on a summary basis, or where there is clearly nothing to be gained by granting an oral hearing, for example where the appeal question relates to contribution conditions or means and the underlying means or contribution figures are not disputed.

28,062 appeals were finalised by Appeals Officers in 2013, and of these 7,598 (27.1%) were decided following an oral appeal hearing. Of the 17,828 appeals finalised between 1 January and 31 August 2014, 5,354 (30%) were following an oral appeal hearing.