Written answers
Wednesday, 20 March 2024
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Social Welfare Appeals
Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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745. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of appeals registered by the independent social welfare appeals office for the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12265/24]
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 table below confirms the number of appeals registered by the Social Welfare Appeals office for the past five years.
| SWAO Appeals Registered 2019-2023 2019 | 22,397 |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 23,664 |
| 2021 | 24,820 |
| 2022 | 25,093 |
| 2023 | 24,100 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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746. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average time it takes to complete appeals submitted to the independent social welfare appeals office for the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12266/24]
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 table below confirms the average time it has taken to complete appeals submitted to the Independent Social Welfare Appeals office for the past five years.
| SWAO Average Processing Times (in weeks) 2019-2023Year | |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 24.7 |
| 2020 | 16.5 |
| 2021 | 12.9 |
| 2022 | 14.9 |
| 2023 | 16.0 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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747. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an appeal for an invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12292/24]
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 received in that Office on 19 December 2023. The appeal was registered by that office on 08 March 2024. 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 these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral appeal hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
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