Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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50. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the average time for final decisions to be made by deciding officers in the appeals office in respect of social welfare appeals since January 2014; the average time in 2012 and 2013 regarding the same process; the percentage of social welfare appeals lodged in the past 12 months that have been successful; the percentage of original applications refused on grounds of medical evidence that have then been won on appeal. [40780/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The average processing time for appeals peaked in 2011 when the average time for an oral hearing was 52.5 weeks and for a summary decision was 25.1 weeks. In 2012 the average processing time for an oral hearing dropped to 39.5 weeks and the time for a summary decision increased slightly to 27.8 weeks. Further improvements were achieved in 2013, when the average appeal processing time reduced to 33.9 weeks for an oral hearing and 25.8 weeks for a summary decision. As at 30 September 2014, the average time taken to process an appeal requiring an oral hearing reduced to 29.3 weeks and 21.8 weeks for a summary decision.

Appeal processing times are calculated from the registration date of the appeal to the date of its finalisation. They include all activities during this period including time spent awaiting any clarification from the appellant, time 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. While this process carries an inherent delay in terms of finalising an appeal, it also highlights the flexibility and accessibility of the appeals system. By its nature and because it is a quasi-judicial function, the processing of appeals takes time and reflects the fact that, by definition, the appeal process cannot be a quick one.

In the 12 month period 1 October 2013 to 30 September 2014, 34,013 appeals were finalised. Of those, 19,117 had a successful outcome for the appellant. Of the 19,117, 13,501 were allowed by Appeals Officers and 5,616 were revised following a review by a Deciding Officer of my Department.

In relation to carers allowance, carers benefit, disability allowance, illness benefit, invalidity pension and domiciliary care allowance, 19,283 appeals were finalised in the 12 month period 1 October 2013 to 30 September 2014. Of these, 9,766 (50.6%) were allowed by Appeals Officers. However it should be noted that the issues involved in these appeals may include other criteria such as means, contribution conditions and habitual residence.