Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 43: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the action he is taking to reduce the waiting period for social welfare appeals. [21591/10]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 69: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the average time it took to process social welfare appeals in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21667/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 69 together.

I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that there were 26,000 appeals received in 2009 and it is estimated the number in 2010 could reach 30,000 compared to the average number received over the previous 4 years of 15,000. This represents a near 50% increase in the number of appeals received. At the end of 2009 there were 16,000 appeals on hands and that figure has now risen to 19,000 whereas in previous years that number would have been in the region of 5,000 to 6,000. I understand 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.

While the growing number of appeals is clearly impacting on processing times it must also be remembered that the processing time for appeals covers all phases of the appeal process including the submission by the Department of its comments on the grounds for the appeal, further examination by the Department's Medical Assessors in certain illness related cases, further investigation by Social Welfare Inspectors where required and circumstances may also arise where further information is sought from the appellant. Delays can also occur where the appellant submits new information or evidence, often at an advanced stage in the proceedings. In some cases adjournments may be sought by the appellants or their representatives.

A number of initiatives are currently underway designed to enhance the capacity of the office to deal with the current caseload and inflows. In that regard,

· 2 additional Appeals Officers were assigned to the Office in 2009,

· A number of additional staff are being assigned to administration area of the Office,

· The organisation of the Appeals Officer's work has been changed so as to increase productivity,

· A project to improve the business processes in the office is underway and a number of improvements have already been implemented,

· Significant enhancements are being made to the Office's IT and phone systems.

Notwithstanding these measures, it is clear that further additional staff will be required in the short term to address the backlog that has developed. Any such staff must be very experienced and be in a position to operate without significant training. Therefore it has been decided to use experienced retired staff strictly on a short term basis to supplement the current resources to clear the backlog of appeals.