Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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103. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she expects to be in a position to shorten the waiting period for disability-related appeals in the course of 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11136/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Details of average processing times for the main disability related schemes for 2010 to 2013 which are provided in the following tables point to significant improvements in appeal processing times, particularly in cases where an oral hearing was required. In the case of disability allowance appeals, the average processing time for an oral hearing reduced from 51.1 weeks in 2010 to 36.2 weeks in 2013. Illness benefit appeals which required an oral hearing took an average of 56.4 weeks in 2010 reducing to 43.3 weeks in 2013. A similar trend was reflected in the areas of invalidity pension (down from 59.7 weeks in 2010 to 42.5 weeks in 2013); carer’s allowance (down from 47.3 weeks in 2010 to 33.5 weeks in 2013); carer’s benefit (down from 44.2 weeks in 2010 to 27.4 weeks in 2013); and domiciliary care allowance (down from 49.1 weeks in 2010 to 34.4 weeks in 2013).

Appeal 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 awaiting clarification from the appellant, time in the Department for comments by the Deciding Officer and further investigation or medical examination, if deemed necessary. A major programme of process redesign and modernisation is underway in the Department in relation to many of its scheme areas aimed at reducing backlogs and reducing the time taken by the Department to respond to requests from the appeals office for submissions in relation to appeals. It is anticipated that with these improvements, the processing times for appeals will continue to improve throughout 2014.

Processing times for Disability Allowance Appeals 2010-2013

Processing times for Illness Benefit Appeals 2010-2013

Processing times for Invalidity Pension Appeals 2010-2013

Processing times for Carers Allowance Appeals 2010-2013

Processing times for Carers Benefit Appeals 2010-2013

Processing times for Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals 2010-2013