Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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563. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which oral hearings in respect of appeals against disallowance for various payments are up to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39321/22]

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. 

When an appeal is assigned to an Appeals Officer for consideration the Appeals Officer makes a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, holds an oral hearing. 

Oral hearings have been successfully conducted online or by telephone since October 2020 and these types of hearings will continue.  This remote hearing approach has proven to be an effective way of facilitating an oral hearing previously achieved via the holding of an in-person hearing.  The present position in relation to in-person oral hearings is that, subject to prevailing public health advice, an in-person oral hearing may be convened where the Chief Appeals Officer is of the view that such a hearing is essential in any particular case.  

It is not possible to state how many appeal cases may require an oral hearing at any one time.  However, for those appeals where it is identified that an oral hearing is required, a hearing can generally be arranged within approximately two weeks. The position in relation to the conducting of oral hearings is kept under review by the Chief Appeals Officer.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.