Mary Moran (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Perry, for coming here to answer my Adjournment matter. Can he explain the long delay in dealing with appeals for the disability allowance? I made inquiries and have been told that over 300 people have had to wait over a year for a decision on their appeal. Also, 4,169 appeals were heard last year but 2,513 of those people had waited over four months. That is an unnecessarily long wait. Why the delay? Why were so many applications disallowed on initial submission yet the Department claims over 50% are granted on appeal? Is there a discrepancy in the initial application? What is the cause of the confusion? Has anyone investigated why so many first round applications are refused? I would be grateful to hear answers.

I rang the Department the other day and was told that the appeals submitted last November are only now being processed. That is an extraordinarily long wait and I look forward to hearing the answer.