Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2013
592. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reasons for the delay in processing social welfare appeals; the measures being taken to address the issue; the number of doctors working in the section in 2012 and 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16382/13]
View answerThere was a rapid and sustained increase in the number of appeals from 2009 to date which has placed extraordinary pressure on the SWAO. Significant resources and efforts have been put into reducing backlogs and improving processing times for appellants, including the assignment of 15 additional Appeals Officers, improving business processes and implementing a new operating model. There has been significant increase in the number of appeals finalised from 17,787 in 2009 to 32,558 in 2012. Processing times have been reduced by 10.3 weeks overall in 2012 with respect to 2011, with time for an oral hearing time down by 13 weeks and the time for summary decision up by 2.7 weeks. The Chief Appeals Officer expects to finalise 6,000 more cases in 2013 than in 2012, when 32,558 cases were finalised. By its nature and because it is a quasi-judicial process, the processing of appeals takes time even at the best of times and reflects the fact that while every effort is made to deal with appeals as fast as possible this cannot be at the expense of fairness of due process.
The total number of Medical Assessors in the Department of Social Protection can vary at different times, due to retirements and recruitments. In January 2012, there were 26 Medical Assessors, including the Chief Medical Adviser and the Deputy Chief Medical Adviser. The total number reduced down to 23 by the end of 2012. At present there are 25 Medical Assessors and there are plans to increase this number by a further 4 later in the year.
