Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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189. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the Social Welfare Appeals Office expects to recommence oral hearings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28782/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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When an appeal is assigned to an Appeals Officer, the Appeals Officer will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if determined as necessary, hold an oral hearing.

Oral Hearings are currently being conducted online or by telephone and these types of hearings will continue. Due to the public health restrictions arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, in-person hearings were suspended in March 2020 and have remained suspended since then with the exception of a small number of weeks in August and September 2020. The matter of the resumption of in-person hearings is being kept under review.

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 trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.