James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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112. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the current waiting time for appealing decisions on carer's allowance applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14585/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The average processing time for carer’s allowance appeals, to the end of February 2017, is 21.9 weeks for appeals requiring an oral hearing, and 19.1 weeks for appeals which were determined by means of a summary decision.

Appeal processing times are kept under constant scrutiny by the Chief Appeals Officer and significant effort and resources have been devoted in recent years to reducing the length of time taken to finalise an appeal. This has resulted in a marked improvement in processing times.

Average processing times for carer’s allowance appeals have reduced from 57.9 weeks for an oral hearing in 2011 to 25.9 weeks in 2015, 21.6 weeks in 2016 and 21.9 weeks to date in 2017. The average processing time for carer’s allowance appeals determined by way of a summary decision reduced from 31.3 weeks in 2011 to 20.6 weeks in 2015, 17.6 weeks in 2016 and 19.1 weeks to date in 2017.

While carer’s allowance processing times for the first two months of 2017 may appear to have increased slightly when compared with the 2016 annual figures, it should be noted that the corresponding figure for the first two months of 2016 was 22.7 weeks for an oral hearing and 18.9 weeks for a summary decision.

The quasi-judicial nature of the appeals system means that there are inevitable time-lags involved. However the system is designed to be flexible and fair and allows for review and submission of further information at all stages. The time taken is proportionate to the complexity of many of the issues under appeal which require a high level of judgement, and the need to ensure due process and natural justice.

The Chief Appeals Officer has advised me that appeal processing times will continue to be a priority for her office.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.