Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 January 2010
807 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of instances wherein her Department initiated an appeal where a deciding officer has previously awarded a payment in the past five years to date in 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2177/10]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that they have no record of instances whereby an appeal was initiated by the Department in cases where a deciding officer had previously awarded a payment. The Deputy may be referring to cases where the Department requested a review by the Chief Appeals Officer in respect of Appeals Officers decisions. An Appeals Officer's decision is final and conclusive but may be revised by the Chief Appeals Officer where it appears that the decision was erroneous by reason of some mistake having been made in relation to the law or the facts. Either party to an appeal may seek such a revision. The Department requested a review in 1 case in 2007, 9 cases in 2008 and 11 cases in 2009 and 1 case in 2010. There is no record of any review being sought by the Department prior to 2007.
