Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 May 2020
1003. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason there is no response in relation to social welfare appeals some of which are dating back to the middle of 2019; the status of appeals by persons (details supplied); and when a decision will be made. [8086/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I am advised that the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the number of appeals on hand in the Office, as of 1 May 2020, was 7,590. The corresponding figure for the end of 2019 was 8,788.
This year has seen an increase in the number of appeals being finalised. 8,965 appeals were finalised in the period January-April 2020 compared to 6,788 in the corresponding period for 2019.
The average appeal processing time for the year 2019 was 23.8 weeks. There has been some improvement to date in 2020 as the average appeal processing time for the period January to April was 20.7 weeks.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has also advised me that the queries in respect of the eight individual cases referred to by the Deputy have been answered by way of email directly to the Deputy's office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
