Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

429.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for an update on the appeal of a person (details supplied). [24603/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence at that time, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision on 11 May 2023.

Under social welfare legislation, the decision of the Appeals Officer is generally final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by an Appeals Officer in light of new evidence or new facts. I am advised that the person concerned has provided new evidence to the Appeals Office. The Appeals Office has recalled the relevant papers from the Department and on receipt of same, the appeal will be referred to an Appeals Officer for review.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

430.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average response time to the Oireachtas representatives’ email address regarding social welfare appeals. [24604/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 the current response time to the Oireachtas representatives’ email address regarding social welfare appeals is 15 working days. This can fluctuate depending on resources and volume of queries received.

Improvements in mailbox response times are a priority for the Social Welfare Appeals Office and additional staff have been assigned to the communication section to help reduce response times to both Oireachtas representatives and to appellants.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.