Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 293: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the waiting lists for disability allowance hearings in view of the fact that there is a 14 month waiting list. [26330/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the number of appeals waiting to be processed at present is 17,992 (a reduction of some 2,809 (since September 2010), of which 3,128 refer to disability allowance. These figures must be seen against a background where there has been a very significant increase in the number of appeals received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office since 2007 when the intake was 14,070 to 32,432 in 2010. Current indications are that, while there now appears to be a slight drop in the number of appeals being received in 2011, the annual intake is still likely to be close to 30,000 for the year.

In an effort to reduce the backlog of appeals, the Department made 9 additional appointments to the office earlier this year. These assignments augment the 3 appointments made to the Office in 2010, bringing the total number of Appeals Officers serving in the office to 29. Some 3,000 cases, registered prior to 31/12/10, have been ring fenced and a team of 10 of the Office's most experienced Appeals Officers have been freed from all other work in the Office and will concentrate on clearing this backlog. This project commenced on July 1st.

In addition to these measures, more emphasis is now placed on dealing with appeals on a summary basis so as to increase productivity. As a result, the number of appeals dealt with by way of oral hearing was reduced from 42% for the first 6 months of 2010 to just over 30% for the same period in 2011. As a result of the various initiatives taken, 22,226 decisions were made by Appeals Officers in the first eight months of 2011, in comparison to 17,184 for the same period in 2010. Overall, it is expected that the increase in the number of decisions being made by Appeals Officers will continue and this, combined with the slight reduction in the numbers received should lead to on-going reductions in the backlog of appeals.

The Deputy asks about two cases as an addendum to his question; one case received on 18 January 2011 is listed for an oral hearing since 6 August 2011 and there is no appeal registered for the other. In relation to the first person mentioned in your Parliamentary Question, following a review of his continued entitlement to disability allowance, his payment was stopped as he was deemed to be no longer medically suitable for disability allowance. He subsequently appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

In relation to the second person mentioned in your Parliamentary Question, this lady applied for disability allowance on 4 February 2011. Her claim was referred to one of the department's medical assessors who was of the opinion that the person was not medically suitable for disability allowance. The deciding officer accepted this opinion and her claim was refused and the person was notified in writing of this decision on 15 July 2011. Further medical evidence has now been received in this case and has been referred to one of the department's medical assessors for their opinion. The person concerned will be notified shortly of the outcome of the review.