Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 November 2017
512. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of appeals in respect of various payments awaiting a decision for more than two months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51212/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table below provide the details which have been requested by the Deputy in respect of pending appeals.
Of the 8,898 appeals presently on hand, 4,025 (45.2%) were registered prior to 1 October 2017. Of these, 1,817 (45.1 %) are currently with the Department for review and/or the preparation of the Deciding Officer/Designated Person’s appeal submission and 2,184 (54.3%) are presently with the appeals office.
The quasi-judicial nature of the appeal system impacts on appeal processing times which are proportionate to the complexity of many of the issues under appeal and often require a high level of judgement, in addition to the need to ensure due process and natural justice.
The time taken to determine an appeal reflects all aspects of the appeal process including the time spent in the Department reviewing the decision in light of the appeal contentions and/or preparing the appeal submission. As at the end of October 2017, 41% of appeals which had a favourable outcome for the appellant resulted from revised decisions taken by Deciding Officers/Designated Persons at this stage of the appeal process.
Where a decision is not revised by the Department, the file and Deciding Officer/Designated Person’s submission is forwarded to the Appeals Office for consideration by an Appeals Officer. Of the 10,786 appeals which had been finalised by Appeals Officers to the end of October 2017, 42% (4,554) were determined by way of oral hearing and 57.8% (6,232) were determined by way of summary decision.
Where an oral hearing is required the logistics involved in scheduling the hearing and giving the appellant and any other witnesses, adequate notice unavoidably adds to the timeframe involved.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy
Appeals Registered prior to 1 October 2017
|
No. of Appeals |
|
|
Blind Person’s Pension |
5 |
|
Carers Allowance |
526 |
|
Carers Benefit |
21 |
|
Child Benefit |
109 |
|
Disability Allowance |
517 |
|
Illness Benefit |
78 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
14 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
204 |
|
Deserted Wives Benefit |
2 |
|
Farm Assist |
58 |
|
Liable Relatives |
5 |
|
Family Income Supplement |
117 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
175 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
11 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
5 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
82 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
160 |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
103 |
|
State Pension (Transition) |
2 |
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance |
2 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
13 |
|
Disablement Pension |
88 |
|
Medical Care |
2 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
3 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Con) |
6 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Con) |
1 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance (Means) |
518 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
522 |
|
BTW Family Dividend |
14 |
|
Jobseeker's Transitional |
13 |
|
Recoverable Benefits & Assistance |
4 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
158 |
|
Treatment Benefit |
- |
|
Carer’s Support Grant * |
24 |
|
Insurability of Employment |
121 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
319 |
|
Survivor's Pension (Con) |
13 |
|
Survivor's Pension (Non-con) |
6 |
|
Widows Parent Grant |
4 |
|
Total on hands |
4,025 |
* Previously called Respite Care Grant
