Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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752. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to increase the number of staff in the social welfare appeals office by 25%; the necessary resources required to do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37559/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department, like all Government departments and agencies is required to operate within a staff ceiling figure and a commensurate administrative staffing budget, which for this Department has involved reductions in staff. 

The staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed, taking account of workloads, management priorities and the ongoing need to respond to new increasing demands in a wide range of services. This is to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources with a view to providing an efficient service to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department.

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

All claim decisions taken by the Department’s Deciding Officers are appealable to the Chief Appeals Officer.  In any year approximately 85% of all claims are awarded and just 1% are appealed.   Nevertheless, the Department is concerned that these cases are dealt with as quickly as possible.

A number of new Appeals Officers have joined the Appeals Office over the past 12-18 months to replace staff leaving on retirement. Given the complexity of the appeals process it takes some time for new staff to be trained up and develop expertise and this has led to somewhat longer processing times during this period. The Chief Appeals Officer has advised me that appeal processing times will continue to be a priority for her office.