25 Aib 2023, 15:24
The Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands will meet on Wednesday April 26th for engagement on draft regulations relating to the operation of the Social Welfare Appeals Office with Department officials.
The meeting will take place in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House between 09:30-12:30.
The following representatives are due to appear:
Mr. John McKeon - Secretary General, Department of Social Protection
Mr. Brian Molloy - Chief Appeals Officer, Department of Social Protection
Speaking ahead of the meeting Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Denis Naughten said: “The Social Welfare Appeals Office was established to provide an independent appeals service to people who are unhappy with the decisions of deciding officers of the Department of Social Protection regarding their entitlement to a social welfare payments or support and the Committee are anxious to ensure that this independence is maintained and that appeals are dealt with in a equitable manner”.
“In developing these draft regulations, the Committee has received concerns with regard to the preservation of the independent administrative nature of the appeals decision making process ensuring that it is simple, informal and speedy as highlighted by the Commission on Social Welfare."
“Department officials have shared the draft regulations with the Committee and we look forward to discussing them in more detail and sharing observations and recommendations that Committee members may have tomorrow or by way of a later submission or report to the Minister.”
Watch the meeting live here or on the Oireachtas smartphone app for Apple and Android.