Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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466. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an appeal will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [37843/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that two appeals by the person concerned were registered in that office on 19 April 2021.  It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection.  Those papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 17 May 2021 and the cases were referred to an Appeals Officer on 3 June 2021.

The Appeals Officer will make a summary decision on the appeals based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing. Hearings are currently being conducted online or by telephone. Due to the current level of Covid-19 restrictions in-person oral appeal hearings have been suspended.

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.