asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she has any proposals to speed up decisions in appeals for unemployment assistance and other cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
17.
Written Answers. - Unemployment Appeals.
15.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the plans she has to speed up the examination and consideration of unemployment assistance and unemployment benefit appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 17 together.
The number of appeals received in the Department has increased considerably in recent years, the annual number received at present being in the region of 18,000 compared to a total of about 12,000 in 1982.
The time taken to process appeals varies in accordance with the nature of the decision under appeal and whether or not the case is dealt with summarily or is the subject of an oral hearing. Delays can occur when an oral hearing is necessary particularly when further investigation of means by a social welfare officer is looked for before a decision is made as is the case frequently with appeals under the unemployment assistance scheme.
While the increased number of appeals received in the Department over the last few years has caused delays in processing certain cases, the appointment of two additional appeals officers in 1984 resulted in significant progress in clearing the backlog of cases. The current position is that cases decided summarily are subject to very little delay and while there are still delays in processing appeals which are given an oral hearing, nevertheless the position has shown considerable improvement.
Every effort is being made to have appeals processed with the minimum of delay and the creation of two further permanent posts recently, which were filled in the last few weeks, will reduce further the time taken to deal with appeals including appeals under the unemployment assistance scheme.