Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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1381. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the breakdown of the number of oral hearings granted to clients from 2018 to 2025 in regard to social welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46182/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The number of Oral Hearings held by the Social Welfare Appeals Office for each year from 2018 to 2024 are outlined in the following table. Figures for 2025 are not yet available.

The Chief Appeals Officer has advised me that when a case is assigned to an Appeals Officer, he or she will examine the documentary evidence presented and consider if the appeal can be properly and fairly decided by way of a summary decision. Where an oral hearing of the case is required, the appellant is generally given 2-3 weeks’ advance notice. At any time during this process, up to and including the oral hearing of the appeal, an appellant can submit additional information, which affords them the opportunity to strengthen their case.

Oral hearings can be held virtually, in person or by phone.

There have been significant changes and technological advances across the Department and in the Appeals system over the period covered. Appellants now have the ability to easily transmit additional documentation and evidence through the MyWelfare platform. This can mean that evidence that previously would not have been available to the Appeals Officer until an oral hearing can be provided earlier in the process and result in an Appeals Officer being able to decide a higher number of cases on a summary basis.

Under the Social Welfare Appeals Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 744 of 2024) which came into effect from Monday, 28 April 2025 there is now a legal entitlement to request an oral hearing. While the Appeals Officer retains the discretion on whether to hold a hearing, a refusal must now be accompanied by reasons, ensuring greater transparency.