David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)

I pay tribute to the appeals office for the work it does. Does the Minister agree there is a problem with the number of cases being appealed? The problem seems to be getting worse and the numbers are increasing. The number of cases decided in favour of the appellant has also increased. Does the Minister agree that something must be done at the deciding officer stage to prevent so many cases being appealed? Is the Minister aware that over 60% of cases revised by the deciding officer or appealed in 2005 were decided in favour of the applicant? That is a high percentage. Many of these cases should not have had to go so far.

Will the Minister review the methods used by deciding officers to ensure people do not have to use the appeals process in the great numbers as is happening at present? There should not then be a delay in getting benefits to which, according to the appeals officer, people are entitled. An adjustment must be made.

What notice do deciding officers take of decisions by appeal officers? Does the appeals officer set the standard for the deciding officer? Does the Minister agree matters seem to be getting worse, not better, in this regard? More and more cases are going to the appeals office and at that stage, more of them are being decided in favour of the apellant, which indicates they should not have gone there in the first place.

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