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 appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on the 3rd of August 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. When the papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office the case was assigned to an Appeal s Officer. The Appeals Officer has been contacted and has confirmed this appeal has now been finalised and the appeal has been allowed. Notification of the outcome of the appeal issued to the person concerned on the 11th January 2024.

The nature of the appeals process impacts on the processing times which are proportionate to the complexity of many of the issues under appeal that often require a high level of judgement in addition to the need to ensure due process and natural justice. Appeals may be determined on a summary basis or by means of an oral hearing. As in this case where an oral hearing is deemed necessary it may result in further delays in the process in terms of making the necessary arrangements for the hearing.

Further improvements in appeals processing times are a priority for the Chief Appeals Officer. A significant Appeals Modernisation Project is currently underway the goal of which is to streamline and enhance the end-to-end appeals process for the customer, the Social Welfare Appeals Office and business areas across the Department.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.