Dáil debates

Wednesday, 30 March 2011

Priority Questions

Social Welfare Appeals

1:00 pm

Photo of Billy KelleherBilly Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 22: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans in relation to the commitment in the Programme for Government to divert staff from elsewhere in the public service to clear the social welfare appeals backlog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6053/11]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The need for additional resources to deal with the significant increase in the number of appeals received by the social welfare appeals office has been recognised by the Department of Social Protection. The annual intake of appeals grew from 14,070 in 2007 to 32,432 in 2010, which was an increase of 18,362 or 130.5%. It appears that some 30,000 appeals will be received in 2011. I am pleased to inform Deputies that nine additional appointments have been made to the office in recent weeks. Three of these appointments are permanent assignments and six are temporary assignments for a period of two years, subject to review. They will augment the three appointments that were made to the office in 2010 and bring the total number of appeals officers serving in the office to 29.

The Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2010 facilitated the use of experienced retired former appeals officers, strictly on a temporary basis, to help to bring the backlogs under control. As a result, eight such officers have been employed since July of last year, which represents the equivalent of three additional full-time staff. The quasi-judicial nature and complexity of the work means there can be a relatively long lead-in time before new appeals officers become fully competent to deal with the full range of cases coming to the office. In that regard and to ensure there is no loss of output during the training period of newly appointed officers, the retired former appeals officers will continue to assist in the office until the end of this year.

In line with a commitment in the programme for Government, the matter of providing further additional staff will be kept under continuous review. In conjunction with the provision of extra staff, the chief appeals officer is undertaking a review of the current operating model with a view to achieving a more effective throughput of appeals, while ensuring any progress does not conflict with due process in terms of the rights of people who are appealing and adherence to the requirements of natural justice.

Photo of Billy KelleherBilly Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the decision to continue to avail of the services of retired appeals officers, which is a worthwhile practice. The Minister referred to the quasi-judicial nature and complexity of many of the cases with which the office deals. I understand that training is critical in that context. I am concerned that the proposal in the programme for Government to reduce by 25,000 the number of people employed in the public sector and the Civil Service could affect the increased appointments that will be needed over the next few years. Although the Government has an ambitious programme for getting Ireland back to work, the reality is that many people will continue to appeal social welfare decisions. Every Deputy in this House makes regular representations to appeals officers. The number of such representations will stay at the current high level, at least, for the foreseeable future. Is the Minister satisfied that the office will have an appropriate number of competent staff to deal with an increased number of appeals?

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I assure the Deputy that since I took office, I met the staff who deal with social welfare appeals. I did so as a matter of priority in order to examine ways and means of improving the service and the speed of the service. Every Deputy in the House is aware that this is a critical area, particularly for those who have lost jobs or businesses and are looking to the Department of Social Protection for income support. The provision of additional staffing is among the areas at which we are looking. That is now in train. Having spoken to officials in the Department, I am confident that the extra staff will make a significant difference.

In addition, we need to provide for more summary appeals. Deputies will be familiar with this aspect of the matter. Some difficulties arise from a failure to provide the proper documentation, etc., that is required. If we had a better system of monitoring whether application forms are fully completed, it would be possible to undertake a summary examination of each file. Given that 42% of cases are successful on appeal, perhaps this would be the best way of improving the throughput and reducing the backlog.

Photo of Billy KelleherBilly Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Does the Minister accept that appeals officers should be considered as front line staff? In the context of the proposed reductions in the public sector and the Civil Service, will she make the case for appeals officers to be considered as front line staff, like doctors, teachers, nurses and gardaí?

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I will make this a priority. I have already held discussions with senior and management staff on ways and means of improving the speed with which appeals are handled. As it is a quasi-judicial process, a great deal of care has to be taken when conducting appeals. I am quite confident that the appointment of additional staff and the improvement of procedures, which is being examined by the chief appeals officer at the moment, will result in a reduction of the backlog. I hope that will happen. The backlog has developed in the context of the unfortunate expansion in appeals, which is a consequence of the increase in the levels of unemployment and business losses.