David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 377: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the average duration of the appeals process for cases appealed to the social welfare appeals office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23535/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The average processing time for appeals closed in 2004 was 20 weeks and 90% of cases were finalised within 15 weeks. This covers all phases of appeals, including, where appropriate, examination by medical assessors of the Department and oral hearings, which are now afforded in approximately 70% of the cases determined by appeals officers.

Some appeals will always take a particularly long time to process, generally for reasons which are outside the control of the appeals office, for example, delays can occur if the appellant furnishes new evidence which requires investigation at a late stage in the proceedings or where adjournments are sought by the appellant and his/her representative. The social welfare appeals system is judicial in nature and the procedures involved are designed to ensure that every appellant's case gets full and satisfactory consideration. While the achievement of further improvement in processing times is a major objective of the office, at all times it is necessary that progress in this regard is achieved in a manner which ensures that every appeal is fully investigated and examined on all its merits.