Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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453. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a person (details supplied) can expect a decision on their social welfare appeal. [24126/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision-making functions.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an invalidity pension appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 2 May 2023. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received from the Department on 17May 2023 and referred on 18 May 2023 to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral appeal hearing.

The current average processing time for an invalidity pension appeal with the Social Welfare Appeals Office is 20.9 weeks.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.