Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the average cost in administrative terms of a social welfare appeal. [43117/10]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 201: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the average length of time to process appeals in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43118/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 200 and 201 together.

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that a very approximate average cost of processing an appeal is €115. This covers the period 1 January 2010 to 31 October 2010 and was calculated by dividing the number of appeals decided into the administrative budget of the Office for that period. The administrative budget comprises staff salaries and other administrative costs in relation to the processing of appeals such as the cost of postage, stationery and room hire. This cost does not include the costs of other inputs that lie outside the administrative budget of the Appeals office.

The average time taken to process a summary decision is 28 weeks, while the average time to process an oral hearing is 44.5 weeks. These processing times are calculated from the registration date of the appeal to the date of its finalisation and include all activities during this period including time spent in the Department for comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal put forward by the appellant and any further investigation, examination or assessment by the Department's Inspectors and Medical Assessors that is deemed necessary.

A considerable period of time is added to the process when an oral hearing is required because of the logistics involved in this 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 dealt with in chronological order.

In addition to the provision of extra staff and also the decision to use experienced retired staff strictly on a short term basis to supplement the current resources, with the services of eight retired officers having now been secured on a part-time basis and operating since July; more emphasis is now being placed on dealing with appeals on a summary basis 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.

As a result of all of these initiatives, a total of 22,995 appeals have been finalised until the end of October in comparison to 14,278 in the same period in 2009. 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.

Question No. 202 withdrawn.