asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state the total number of appeals awaiting decision in his Department on September 30th, 1943, under the Old Age Pension Acts; the number of such appeals received in the Department since September 30th, 1942; the number of such cases referred to Departmental inspectors for local investigation and report and the average time taken for dealing with such cases; also if he will increase the number of deciding officers and inspectors in order to enable appeals to be dealt with in a more expeditious manner.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Appeals Under Old Age Pension Acts.
The total number of appeals awaiting decision on 30/9/43 was 2,274. The number of appeals received in the Department since 30/9/42 was 7,923. The number of cases referred for local investigation and report was 392. On the average appeals are disposed of within three months from the time of receipt. The reply to the latter part of the question is in the negative.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, is he not aware of the fact that there is only one inspector detailed for the purpose of dealing with the matter of old age pensions in these cases, and would he consider whether it would not be a wise thing that additional inspectors should be allotted to that task, or that other inspectors, now engaged for other purposes, might be allotted to the task of dealing with old age pensions?
The position is the same as that which obtained in 1934, when 18,000 appeals were received for the year ending 31st March, 1934.
Is the Minister aware that this matter has been in the hands of his Department for the past 12 months?
I am aware that there are special circumstances in connection with some of these cases, and I shall probably be dealing with that matter to-morrow.
I have been told, from time to time, that this matter was in the hands of the inspector, but that as he had to cover the whole country, it would be almost impossible for him to deal with all these matters. Deputy Davin's statement is to the effect that one man could not possibly cover the whole job, and I think that, if the Minister will make detailed inquiries, he will find corroboration of what has been said. Will the Minister say whether he is prepared to increase the number of deciding officers or inspectors in view of the unreasonable delay that has occurred in these cases?
I have no reason to believe that there has been any unreasonable delay. However, I gather that there is a question on the Order Paper for to-morrow dealing with this matter, when I propose to deal with it.