Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 211: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37999/10]

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 212: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38000/10]

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 216: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the fact that appeals requiring an oral hearing in the social welfare appeals office are being delayed with the office dealing only with appeals lodged in August 2009 at present; if he will investigate this matter with a view to sanctioning additional staff to clear the backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38165/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 211, 212 and 216 together.

I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the average time to process all appeals is at present 28 weeks. Carers allowance appeals take 29 weeks on average and Disability Allowance appeals take 35 weeks.

There was a 46% increase in the overall number of appeals received by that Office in 2009 when compared to 2008, which in itself was 27% greater than the numbers received in 2007. There was an increase of a further 44% in the number of appeals received in the first eight months of 2010.

While this growth is clearly impacting on processing times, it must also be remembered that they cover all phases of the appeal process including the submission by the Department of its comments on the grounds for the appeal and, in the case of Disability Allowance and in some Carer's Allowance cases, a second assessment must be carried out by the Department's Medical Assessors.

On the return of the Deciding Officer's submission and case papers to the Social Welfare Appeals Office the case is referred to an Appeals Officer who will either make a summary decision based on the documentary evidence or, if s/he considers it necessary, list the case for oral hearing.

Given the logistics involved in organising an oral hearing, a considerable period of time is added to the process. During 2009, 59% of all appeal cases were dealt with by way of oral hearing but, due to some of the initiatives outlined below, this has been reduced to 31% in 2010 to date. In order to be fair to all appellants, the vetting of appeals and the arranging of oral hearings are being dealt with in chronological order.

A number of initiatives have been put in place 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 were assigned to the 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 was undertaken which has resulted in a number of improvements being implemented, and

Significant enhancements have been made to the office's IT and phone systems.

In addition, it was decided to use experienced retired staff strictly on a short-term basis to supplement the current resources and the services of eight retired officers have now been secured on a part-time basis and have been operating since July.

I am assured by the Chief Appeals Officer that she 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. The need for additional staff is also kept under review but any decision on the assignment of new staff must be taken in the context of the present embargo on recruitment in the public sector.