Social Welfare Appeals.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 December 2009

Thursday, 17 December 2009

Ceisteanna (265)

Leo Varadkar

Ceist:

265 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will provide in respect of 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009 the number of appeals made under each scheme for all social welfare schemes under the remit of her Department; if she will further provide a breakdown of such appeals by those individuals who were already receiving benefits in which entitlement had been ended or reduced, or would have been new entrants; the success rate for appeals in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48182/09]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin)

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the statistics requested by the Deputy in respect of 2007, 2008 are available in the annual report of that Office for the relevant years. The information requested by the Deputy in respect of 2009 is not readily available in this format and the assembly and collation of such information would take time and, of necessity, divert resources away from processing of appeals which is the top priority for the office. There are no statistics maintained on the numbers of appellants who were already receiving benefits to which entitlement had been ended or reduced as opposed to those who were new entrants.