Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2017
1399. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the delays and backlogs which exist under early years intervention within the Office of the Disability Appeals Officer by county, in tabular form; and the number of children that have been assured of a three month assessment following the complaints procedure [28290/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Disability Appeals Officer received 118 appeal applications in 2016 with 12 applications carried over from 2015. The new appeals received represent a three fold increase in the number of appeals received in 2015 (36 applications received). The majority of the appeals received relate to delays in the completion of the Assessment of Need process by the HSE.
Where this is the case and the appeal is upheld, the Disability Appeals Officer issues a letter of Determination. This letter includes a request that assessment of needs be commenced, if not already commenced, and any Final Assessment Report and Service Statement, should they be entitled to one, need to be completed and issued without further delay.
The following table outlines the number and location by County of appeal applications received in 2016.
|
COUNTY |
NUMBER OF APPLICANTS |
|
Cavan |
6 |
|
Cork |
76 |
|
Dublin |
14 |
|
Laois |
2 |
|
Meath |
1 |
|
Monaghan |
2 |
|
Tipperary |
5 |
|
Wexford |
12 |
The number of Determinations made in 2016 amounted to 65 (11 of these were received in 2015). The number of appeals deemed invalid amounted to 11 (including 1 from 2015), the number withdrawn was 6 and the number of applications carried over into 2017 amounted to 48.
