88. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the current number of appeal officers working in the appeals office; the number for the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8583/25]

Sentiment score: 0.06

How many appeals officers are working in the social welfare appeals office and how many have been working there over the past three years, and will the Minister make a statement on the matter?

Sentiment score: 0.03

I thank the Minister. I welcome that there are 20 additional appeals officers but, unfortunately, as far as I am concerned, appeals times are still growing. I am dealing with a large number of carer's appeals that have been in train for 12 or 14 months and invalidity pension appeals that have been live for more than six months. The problem is that it is very difficult to explain to a person who is under stress and who needs a payment that he or she will have to go through this system. We get letters stating that the relevant papers are with the appeals office in Longford. I would love if someone could explain why officials have to write such letters. Surely, as the Minister mentioned, all of this should be done online. The review should come very quickly from Longford and be with the office in D'Olier Street in Dublin. It is an unnecessary step that the appeals office has to look for the information first. That takes a number of months, and then more months pass before the appeal goes through. Will the Minister outline the plans for streamlining appeals that he hopes to put in place?

Sentiment score: 0.11

I welcome the independence of the appeals office. It is a great system whereby we get a second opinion, and it is something I have used during my time as a public representative. I have always found the appeals officers to be very helpful. With regard to the new appeals procedures, does the Minister have any indication of what the timelines for appeals will be or what he is working towards? That somebody is waiting for an appeal in respect of carer's allowance for over a year is simply not good enough in this modern age. I welcome the fact that there are 20 additional appeals officers, but what can we expect from the new appeals procedures? Something we discussed at the social protection committee in the previous Dáil - this was one of the biggest issues - was the length of time the process takes. Are there are plans to continue to hold oral hearings as part of the appeals procedure? I have used this in the past as well. It is a very effective mechanism and allows people go and meet the appeals officers, but there seems to have been a lack of oral hearings in recent times. Was this down to a shortfall in the number of appeals officers?

Sentiment score: 0.19