David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I commend the Minister on her efforts to improve the time. A period of 29.2 weeks is quite a long time to be waiting for a decision, and especially if the person does not have any income over that period. Obviously when income has been reduced quite considerably, there is a stress that goes with that. Does the Minister have targets in respect of these times of 29.2 weeks and 17.6 weeks? Is there a target to reduce them further by, perhaps, halving them in time with new systems coming in place, more resources and so on? Bearing in mind that every social welfare appeal goes to the appeals office, are we making enough use of the review process? Do people go directly to the appeals office rather than having their cases reviewed, which obviously takes a shorter time? This would really reduce the number of cases that are going to appeals.

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