Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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534. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of appeals submitted by applicants analysed per county, scheme, by paper appeal and by oral appeal in each year since 2015 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11725/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. 

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that statistics are not maintained on a county by county basis, and it is not in a position to supply the information sought by the Deputy in relation to the appeals submitted by county.  

All claim decisions taken by the Department’s Deciding Officers and Designated Persons are appealable to the Chief Appeals Officer.  In any year about 85% of all claims are awarded by the Department and just 1% are appealed.

There are a number of ways which an appeal may be finalised.  The large majority of appeals are decided upon by an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the documentary evidence presented or if necessary, hold an oral hearing. In some other cases, new evidence is provided with the appeal and, as a result, the original decision may be revised in favour of the appellant by the Deciding Officer or Designated Person.  A small proportion of appeals are withdrawn.  

The first table below shows the number of appeals submitted by appellants per scheme in each year from 2015 to 2021.  

The second table below provides details of appeals outcomes in each year from 2015 to 2021. 

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Appeals received 2015 to 2021

Appeal Outcomes 2015-2021