Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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443. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a facility can be found and arranged to expedite oral hearings online or otherwise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5771/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.

I am advised by the Chief Appeals Officer that it is currently not possible to facilitate in-person oral hearings due to Covid-19 restrictions.  However, the Social Welfare Appeals Office commenced conducting online appeal hearings on 11th November 2020.  In addition, appeal hearings are being conducted via telephone, where suitable.  Appeals also continue to be determined on the basis of written submissions.  Since November 2020, a total of 167 appeal hearings have been conducted online or by phone.  Such hearings can generally be arranged in a timely manner, assuming the parties to the appeal are available.  The position in relation to the conducting of oral hearings is being kept under review by the Chief Appeals Officer.

Information in relation to oral hearings conducted online or by telephone is set out in the attached tables below.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.