Vol. 471 No. 8
106 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the serious delays occurring in the appeals office; if the matter will be examined with a view to having social welfare appeals expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22339/96]
Statistics on appeals finalised during the first ten months of 1996 show that the average processing time was about 18 weeks. Appeals involving oral hearings tend to take longer than this whereas those where the appeal can be determined on the basis of the documentary evidence would be dealt with more quickly. This average period includes all phases of appeals including the additional time involved in the determination of a number of appeals where, for example, further investigations have to be made or adjournments have been sought etc. In 1995 approximately one-third of completed appeals were disposed of within two months of being registered in the social welfare appeals office. These processing times compare favourably with international experience in this area.
While every effort is made to improve the situation this is contrained by statutory requirements and the quasi-judicial nature of the appeal process itself which involved the resolution of conflicting contentions.
The provision of a prompt service is a major objective of the social welfare appeals office. However, it is necessary to ensure that progress in this area is achieved in a manner which is consistent with the demands of justice and the requirement that every appeal be fully investigated and examined on all of its merits.
107 Mr. N. Treacy asked the Minister for Social Welfare the estimated number of carers here who are taking care of family members and/or relatives in their homes; the number of carers currently in receipt of a carer's allowance; the year in which the carer's allowance scheme was introduced; the number of carers on this scheme since it commenced; the annual cost of this scheme, including the cost to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22359/96]
The carer's allowance was introduced in November 1990 and is a social assistance scheme which provides an income maintenance payment to people who are providing elderly or incapacitated pensioners or certain disabled persons with full time care and attention and whose incomes fall below certain limits.
It is not a condition of the scheme that the carer must be related to the person being cared for. Accordingly, separate figures are not maintained by my Department as to the number of people getting the allowance who are looking after relatives. The carer's association, which represents the interests of carers in the country, has estimated that there are about 30,000 people currently providing full time care and attention for those who require it.
At the end of September, 1996 there were a total of 8,088 people in receipt of the carer's allowance at a cost to end-September 1996 of £19.24 million. The annual cost of the allowance since its inception and the number of cases in payment at the end of each year are as follows:
|
Expenditure |
Numbers |
|
|
£ |
||
|
1990 |
0.97 |
2,563 |
|
1991 |
6.00 |
3,959 |
|
1992 |
10.00 |
4,437 |
|
1993 |
11.50 |
4,748 |
|
1994 |
14.40 |
5,392 |
|
1995 |
20.20 |
7,189 |
|
1996 |
27.10 (est.) |
8,300 (est.) |
