Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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100. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection since the introduction of updated regulations to modernise and streamline the social welfare appeals process implemented on 28 April 2025, if a reduction in processing times has been achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50807/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Regulations 2024 came into effect on 28 April 2025. These new regulations apply to appeals where both the notice of appeal is received, and the decision under appeal is dated on or after this commencement date.

The purpose of these updated regulations is to modernise and streamline the social welfare appeals process, providing greater clarity, improved consistency, and more defined timeframes.

The time limit for lodging an appeal has increased from 21 to 60 days, with provision for the Chief Appeals Officer to accept late appeals up to 180 days in certain circumstances. This will allow customers a longer period to prepare their appeal and gather any additional documentation.

The new regulations formalise the requirement for the scheme area within the Department to carry out a review of the initial Deciding Officer’s decision. This means that the Department must review the decision even if the customer does not specifically request a review. This means that the decision may be revised in favour of the customer at the earliest stage possible with no need for the decision to be considered by an Appeals Officer. In 2025 32% of decisions have been revised in this way.

Thus far, the new Regulations have led to a reduction in appeal processing times. In 2024, the average time to process an appeal was 23.5 weeks. At the end of Quarter 2 2025 the average time to process an appeal was 21.9 weeks. It is expected that this figure will reduce further as we approach the end of the year.

The Chief Appeals Officer continues to monitor 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.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.