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Social Welfare Appeals

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 April 2012

Wednesday, 25 April 2012

Ceisteanna (121)

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

122 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of appeals received in respect of all schemes in her Department in the past three weeks; the length of time for such appeals to be decided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20853/12]

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Freagraí scríofa

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that a total of 1,543 appeals across all schemes were received in the 3 week period 2 April to 20 April 2012. Based on returns for the first quarter of 2012, the average times taken to process appeals decided by summary decision is 22.4 weeks and 40.9 weeks for those requiring an oral hearing.

These processing times are calculated from the registration date of the appeal to the date of its finalisation and include all activities during this period including time spent in the Department for comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal put forward by the appellant and any further investigation, examination or assessment by the Department's Inspectors and Medical Assessors that is deemed necessary. A considerable period of time is added to the process when an oral hearing is required because of the logistics involved in this process.

I am assured by the Chief Appeals Officer that she is keeping the methods of operation by which the Social Welfare Appeals Office conducts its business under constant review, and that the processes are continuously being enhanced to reduce the backlogs in the Office and, overall, to reduce the processing times for dealing with appeals.

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