asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of deciding officers in his Department and their location for the past five years; if there has been a reduction in the number of deciding officers; the number of appeals officers over the same period; and if there is a reduction due to voluntary redundancies.
Written Answers. - Departmental Staff.
150.
The numbers of deciding officers and appeals officers during the period in question are set out in the table below. The number of deciding officers has increased by 254 over the period.
Deciding officers are located in all my Department's Dublin offices and in all employment exchanges.
Ten deciding officers and two appeals officers have applied for retirement under the early retirement scheme for officers 50 years of age and over and the question of the filling of their vacancies is at present under consideration.
|
Year |
Deciding Officers |
Appeals Officers |
|
1988 |
1,298 |
13 |
|
1987 |
1,225 |
13 |
|
1986 |
1,074 |
14* |
|
1985 |
1,056 |
11 |
|
1984 |
1,044 |
9 |
*This figure includes officers temporarily assigned to deal with appeals arising out of applications for unemployment assistance from smallholders.