Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Yes. That is because we have improved the platforms and have really invested in technology at the Appeals Office. In the context of the recession, there was a vast increase in the number of applications and appeals. If one meets an application at an early stage and it is not successful, I would advise members to seek to obtain more appropriate and stronger evidence to support the application, rather than having to go into the appeals process which, by its nature as a legal procedure, tends to be a bit longer.