Vol. 543 No. 3
43 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs his views on the reasons for the 14% increase in the number of appeals lodged against decisions made by his Department revealed in the report of the social welfare appeals office; if he intends to introduce any review of procedures for making decisions in his Department in view of the fact that 40% of the appeals were allowed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26828/01]
During 2000, the number of people availing of their statutory right to appeal against decisions made by deciding officers of my Department increased to 17,650 from the 1999 figure of 15,465. Appeals relating to unemployment benefit and assistance payments mainly account for the increase. The question at issue in these appeals for the most part is whether the statutory conditions of being available for and genuinely seeking suitable employment are satisfied in particular cases, taking account of the increased opportunities in the lab our market. The increased level of activity in this area through the Government's employment action programme and otherwise would tend to result in increasing numbers of such appeals. Other significant increases during 2000 were in the carer's allowance and disability allowance schemes. The conditions for entitlement to these have been amended over recent years, extending and easing entitlement, and it is considered that the increased number of appeals in these categories is as a result of an increased level of claims arising from these extensions.
All decisions on claims for benefits under the statutory social welfare schemes are made by deciding officers with reference to the relevant legislation. However, the number of appeals received against decisions made by deciding officers represents only a fraction of the total number of such decisions made. For example, the figure of 17,650 appeals received by the appeals office last year should be seen in the context of a total of some two million new and revised decisions made by deciding officers.
In other words, in over 99% of cases the persons concerned accepted the deciding officer's decision. Of all appeals received, about 21% were allowed or partially allowed, nearly 42% were disallowed, 22% of cases were revised by the deciding officer and 15% were withdrawn. When an appeal is received, the appeals office refers the case to the deciding officer for his or her comments on the arguments made by the appellant, including any new evidence submitted. As a result of this process over one-fifth of such cases were revised in the person's favour by deciding officers, essentially because new evidence was available that warranted revision.
It is my Department's policy to ensure that persons who receive unfavourable decisions are provided with the means to have such decisions reviewed as quickly as possible. What we want to achieve is that where new evidence becomes available after a decision is made, that evidence is submitted directly to the deciding officer in the first instance so that the case can be re-examined quickly and, if appropriate, the decision revised without having to go through the more lengthy appeals process. To this end my Department is developing systems to review decisions in the light of any further information brought to notice following the initial decision and to ensure that claimants are advised of their right to seek such a review. During this year a management consultancy study will be undertaken of the role, functions and organisation of the appeals office, including examination of all the processes involved in dealing with claims to the appeals stage. Any necessary procedural improvements which are identified in the course of this examination will be implemented.
