Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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159. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of appeals currently with the scope section of the Department; and the number of these appeals that have run over one year. [39778/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office is a service 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 number of appeals on hand in relation to Insurability is 56. Appeals originating from decisions of the Department’s Scope section are generally considered the most complex type of appeal that the Social Welfare Appeals Office deals with. These appeals often have several parties, many of whom have representation or legal counsel. The total wait time represents a period where there can be significant ongoing correspondence and preliminary preparatory work. In addition, the majority of appeals in this category require an oral hearing which takes longer than appeals that can be decided on a summary basis.

The number of Insurability appeals that are on hand for over one year is 49. The Chief Appeals Officer has put in place measures to improve appeals processing performance. A number of Appeals Officers have recently completed additional training and have now been assigned to process Insurability appeals.

The Chief Appeals Officer continues to monitor the number of appeals on hand in all categories and the appeal processing times. While every effort is made to reduce the time taken to process an appeal, the drive for efficiency must be balanced with the competing demand to ensure that decisions are consistent and made in accordance with the provisions set out in primary legislation and regulations.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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160. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of appeals with the scope section of the Department with regard to State and semi-State body pensions; the average time they are ongoing; and the longest ongoing appeal. [39779/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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There are a small number of Insurability appeals on hand in relation to State and semi-State body pensions. Given the small numbers, it is not possible to given any further details as there is a danger that the appellants could be individually identified.

Appeals originating from decisions of the Department’s Scope section are generally considered the most complex type of appeal that the SWAO deals with. These appeals often have several parties, many of whom have representation or legal counsel. Therefore the time in progress represents a period where there can be significant ongoing correspondence and preliminaries preparatory work. In addition, the majority of cases in this category require an oral hearing which takes longer than where an appeal can be decided on a summary basis.

The Chief Appeals Officer continues to monitor processing times and every effort is made to reduce the time taken to process an appeal. A number of Appeals Officers have recently completed additional training and have now been assigned to process Insurability appeals. However, the drive for efficiency must be balanced with the competing demand to ensure that decisions are consistent and made in accordance with the provisions set out in primary legislation and regulations.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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161. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of appeals currently with the scope section of the Department with regards to a dispute over the modified rate of insurance governed by either paragraph 81, 82, 83 or 84 of S.I No. 312 of 1996, Social Welfare (Consolidated Contributions and Insurability) Regulations, 1996. [39780/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office is a service 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.

There are a small number of appeals currently on hand in relation to Insurability with regard to a dispute over the modified rate of insurance. Given the small numbers, it is not possible to give any further details as there is a danger that the appellants could be individually identified.

Appeals originating from decisions of the Department’s Scope section are generally considered the most complex type of appeal that the Appeals Office deals with. These appeals often have several parties, many of whom have representation or legal counsel. The total wait time represents a period where there can be significant ongoing correspondence and preliminary preparatory work. In addition, the majority of cases in this category require an oral hearing which takes longer than an appeal that can be decided on a summary basis.

The Chief Appeals Officer continues to monitor the number of appeals on hand and the appeal processing times, and every effort is made to reduce the time taken to process an appeal. However, the drive for efficiency must be balanced with the competing demand to ensure that decisions are consistent and made in accordance with the provisions set out in primary legislation and regulations.