Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 section 315

Procedure where assessor appointed

Section 315 allows an appeals officer to proceed with a hearing without the assessor, provided all parties consent.

• Certain appeal matters under this Part are scheduled to be heard by an appeals officer sitting with an assessor appointed under section 309.
• If the assessor is absent, the hearing may still go ahead, but only with the consent of all parties appearing at the hearing.
• Without the consent of every party, the matter cannot proceed in the assessor's absence.
• This provision ensures that no party is disadvantaged by the assessor's non-attendance unless they have agreed to continue.