Written answers

Wednesday, 29 November 2017

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Social Welfare Appeals Delays

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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77. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she will take to speed up the manner in which various appeals are being dealt with which can cause severe hardship; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50548/17]

Photo of Regina DohertyRegina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Significant efforts and resources have been devoted to reforming the appeal process in recent years. As a result, appeal processing times improved between 2011 and 2016 from 52.5 weeks for an oral hearing in 2011 to 24.1 weeks in 2016 and from 25.1 weeks for a summary decision in 2011 to 17.6 weeks in 2016. I understand from the Chief Appeals Officer that there has been a slight increase in processing times in 2017 with oral hearings taking, on average, 26 weeks and summary decisions taking 20 weeks to finalise. A number of factors have contributed to the increase including the retirement of six experienced Appeals Officers during the first half of 2017. However, she is hopeful that processing times will improve as a number of newly appointed Officers gain experience in their roles. Specific actions taken to reduce processing times include: liaising with HR to ensure that vacancies are filled quickly; ensuring that training is given to new Appeals Officers as early as possible; working with the Department to reduce time in submitting appeal files; and a restructuring of the mechanism for recording appeal decisions.

It is open to an appellant to claim supplementary welfare allowance pending the outcome of their appeal if their means are insufficient to meet their needs.

The Chief Appeals Officer assures me that processing times are a priority. However, the drive for efficiency must be balanced with the competing demand to ensure that decisions are consistent and of high quality.

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