Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 181: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will make arrangements to speed up the processing of social welfare appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18858/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The social welfare appeals process is quasi-judicial and the procedures are designed to ensure that every appellant's case gets full and satisfactory consideration. The quasi judicial nature of the appeals system means that the process must be governed by fair procedures. This, of course, can give rise to inevitable time lags in processing appeals.

I am advised that improving processing times is a major objective of the Social Welfare Appeals Office. However, it is necessary at all times to ensure that progress in this regard is achieved in a manner which is not in conflict with the demands of natural justice and the requirement that every appeal be fully investigated and examined on all its merits.