Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 85: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the average time it takes to process social welfare appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8978/10]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 102: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the steps she is taking to deal with the excessive waiting times for social welfare appeals. [8913/10]

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will make a statement on the length of time it is taking to process social welfare appeals; the reason for the delay; and the steps she is taking to clear the backlog of appeals. [8679/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 85, 102 and 103 together.

I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that during 2009 the average time taken to process all appeals (i.e. those decided summarily and by way of oral hearing) was 24 weeks. However, if allowance was made for the 25% most protracted cases, the average time fell to 15.8 weeks. This represents an increase of 2 weeks in the time taken to process appeals when compared to 2008, but must be seen in the context of an increase of 46% in the number of appeals received during 2009 (25,963 in 2009 against 17,833 in 2008).

To deal with this increased workload, two additional Appeals Officers were appointed during 2009. However, the Chief Appeals Officer and 5 experienced Appeals Officers retired during 2009. Although their positions have now been filled, these retirements when coupled with the increase in appeals received, have impacted on the processing of appeals. Because of the quasi-judicial nature and complexity of the work 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.

The matter of assigning additional Appeals Officers is kept under constant review but any consideration of extra assignments must be taken in the context of overall government policy on civil service numbers.

Also, as I advised in answers to previous questions, the Chief Appeals Officer is keeping current processes under continuous review with a view to achieving a more effective throughput of appeals, while ensuring that any progress does not conflict with due process in terms of the rights of appellants and adherence to the requirements of natural justice.