Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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251. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons waiting on an oral hearing for social welfare appeals; the steps being taken to reduce same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45590/24]

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.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that their schedule for oral hearings is currently up to date. Oral hearings are held online, by telephone or in-person. I am advised that there are currently 12 appeals the subject of the oral hearing process. Seven further appeals are currently scheduled for oral hearings in the coming weeks and all parties have been notified and have accepted the times and dates. Five appeals are currently in the process of scheduling hearings. To date in 2024, 380 oral hearings have been conducted by the appeals office.

Under current regulations, if an Appeals Officer is of the opinion that the case is of such a nature that it can be properly determined without a hearing, the appeal may be determined summarily. 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.

Oral hearing arrangements will continue to be kept under regular review by the Chief Appeals Officer.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.