Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Approximately 20,000 appeals come into the Department every year. This amounts to less than 2% of the entire annual claims load. The number of appeals is tiny compared to the overall number of applications the Department receives. The reason a high number are successful is further information not given in the first instance, which could have meant an appeal would have been unnecessary, is provided during the appeals process. Some 6,500 people work in my Department on behalf of the State. Every day they treat all recipients and applicants for schemes with dignity and respect and do so in a timely manner, as long as the necessary information is provided.

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