Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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327. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the length of time it takes to hear a social welfare appeals case; the measures being put in place to reduce such time periods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52640/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the average time to process an appeal at the end of Quarter 2 2025 was 21.9 weeks.  The Chief Appeals Officer has put in place measures to help reduce the number of appeals on hand.  20 additional Appeals Officers were appointed in the period at the end of 2024 and beginning of 2025.  They are currently making appeal decisions in addition to the existing Appeals Officers.

Significant efforts and resources have been devoted to reforming and streamlining the appeals process in recent years.  A modernisation project which includes the introduction of an online application channel has resulted in technological advances across the Department and in the appeals process.  Appellants now have the ability to easily transmit additional documentation and evidence to the relevant scheme area or the Appeals Office through the MyWelfare platform.  This means that evidence relevant to an appeal can be considered earlier in the decision-making process and help reduce processing times.

Furthermore, new appeals regulations which came into effect 28 April 2025 formalise the requirement for the scheme area within the Department to carry out a review of the initial Deciding Officer’s decision.  Where a decision can be revised in favour of the customer at the earliest stage possible there is no need for the decision to be considered by an Appeals Officer.  In 2025, 32% of decisions have been revised in this way.  It is expected that this measure will further reduce the number of appeals on hand and the length of time it takes for appeals to be processed and decided.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.