Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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246. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of social welfare appeals being determined on a weekly basis; the number of appeals arising each week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50626/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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.

In any year about 85% of all claims are awarded by the Department and just 1% are appealed. Nevertheless, the Appeals Office continues to work to ensure that these cases are dealt with as quickly as possible.

In 2019, up to the end of November, 21,130 appeals were registered and 20,017 were finalised. Of those finalised, 14,601 were decided by Appeals Officers, 4,280 were revised decisions made by the Department in favour of the appellant and 1,136 appeals were withdrawn.

The following table sets out the numbers of appeals registered and finalised on a weekly basis in 2019 to the end of November.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Weekly Appeals Statistics 2019