Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 April 2012
395 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; when a decision will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19903/12]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 29th February 2012. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When received, the appeal in question will be referred in due course to an Appeals Officer for consideration on whether to decide the case on a summary basis or hold an oral hearing.
There has been a very significant increase in the number of appeals received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office since 2007 when the intake was 14,070 to 2010 and 2011 when the intake rose to 32,432 and 31,241 respectively. This has significantly impacted on the processing time for appeals and in order to be fair to all appellants, they are dealt with in strict chronological order. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
