Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2010
1375 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the disability and invalidity payment appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan. [33901/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that a Disability Allowance appeal by the person concerned was registered in that Office on 22 June 2010. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received back in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 16 September 2010 and the appeal will be referred in due course to an Appeals Officer who will decide whether the case can be decided on a summary basis or whether to list it for oral hearing. There is no Invalidity Pension appeal by the person concerned registered in the Appeals Office.
There was a 46% increase in the number of appeals received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office in 2009 when compared to 2008, which in itself was 27% greater than the numbers received in 2007. There was an increase of a further 44% in the number of appeals received in the first eight months of 2010. These increases have caused delays in the processing of appeals. In order to be fair to all appellants, oral hearings are arranged in strict chronological order.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
1377 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 521 of 2 February 2010, when a reply will issue. [33988/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy relating to the numbers of appeals decisions in relation to the Habitual Residence Condition for entitlement to social welfare payments, along with the numbers allowed, partly allowed and disallowed, are given in the following table for the years requested. I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that statistics in relation to the citizen category of appellants are not maintained by that Office.
|
Allowed |
PartiallyAllowed |
Disallowed |
Total |
|
|
2004 |
36 |
1 |
155 |
192 |
|
2005 |
239 |
5 |
413 |
657 |
|
2006 |
269 |
51 |
466 |
786 |
|
2007 |
210 |
14 |
634 |
858 |
|
2008 |
179 |
18 |
818 |
1,015 |
|
2009 |
279 |
49 |
1,055 |
1,383 |
|
2010 |
414 |
64 |
2,084 |
2,562 |
