Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the total number of appeals in respect of all forms of social welfare currently on hand; the percentage this represents of all applications under each heading; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36657/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The figures, requested by the Deputy, in regard to the total number of appeals in respect of all forms of social welfare currently on hand and the percentage this represents of all applications under each heading is attached to this reply in tabular form. It should be noted that the figures in relation to the appeals outstanding as a percentage of the applications are not directly related in that some of the outstanding appeals relate to applications made prior to the beginning of 2011.

I am assured by the Chief Appeals Officer that she is keeping the methods of operation by which the Social Welfare Appeals Office conducts its business under constant review, and that the processes are continuously being enhanced to reduce the backlogs in the Office and, overall, to reduce the processing times for dealing with appeals.