Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 May 2023
464. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on the social welfare appeal (details supplied) registered in the social welfare appeals office on 7 December 2022; if she can confirm the reason it took so long for the requested files to be sent to the appeals office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25984/23]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 7 December 2022. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 19 April 2023. The provision of these papers to the Appeals Office was delayed by the need for the Department to obtain a valuation of a house property relevant to the application.
The case was referred on 20 April 2023 to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing.
Significant efforts and resources have been devoted to improvements in the appeal process in recent years. There is active engagement between the Appeals Office and the Department to ensure that the appeals process operates efficiently so that the appeal file papers are provided as quickly as possible to the Appeals Office for consideration by an Appeals Officer. The desire to process appeals quickly has to be balanced with the competing demand to ensure that decisions are consistent and of high quality and made in accordance with the legislative provisions and the general principles of fair procedures and natural justice. Improvements in appeals processing times are a priority for the Chief Appeals Officer.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
