Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 171: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding invalidity pension appeals; the length of time it is taking for decisions to be made on IP appeals; the steps she is taking to help speed up the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8811/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the number of appeals for invalidity pensions on hand at the end of 2011 was 1,582 and the average length of time to process invalidity pension appeals which were finalised in 2011 was 36.4 weeks for those dealt with by way of a summary decision and 58.9 weeks for those that required an oral hearing. 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.

In an effort to reduce the processing times, the Department appointed 9 additional Appeals Officers during 2011 who augmented the 3 appointments made to the Office in 2010. In addition, a further 10 Appeals Officers, formerly employed by the Community Welfare Services (CWS) of the Health Services Executive joined the Office as part of the integration of the CWS appeals services into the Social Welfare Appeals Office. This brings the total number of Appeals Officers to 39.

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.