Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48765/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 15th March 2012. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on the 11th May 2012 and the case has been referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to reduce the processing times for social welfare appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48792/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the current average times taken to process appeals decided by summary decision is 27.5 weeks and 39.8 weeks for those requiring an oral hearing. Generally the vast majority of cases fall within these average times but extenuating factors, often outside of the control of the Social Welfare Appeals Office, will cause greater delays in some cases.

From about early 2009 the number of appeals received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office has increased dramatically and by 2011 had more than doubled from an average of 15,000 per year to 31,241 in 2011. A further 29,630 have been received for the period January to October this year. These increases have significantly impacted on the time taken to process appeals.

In an effort to reduce the processing times for all appeals, the Department has appointed 15 additional Appeals Officers since 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, bringing the total number of Appeals Officers now serving in the Office to 41. In addition to this the Office has improved its business processes and IT support.

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.