Annual Reports
Foreword
Appeals Office - Annual Report 2006
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To The Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mr Séamus Brennan TD.
De réir na forálacha de Alt 308(1) den Acht Leasa Shóisialaigh (Comhdhlúthú), 2005, cuirim isteach tuarascáil na hOifige Achomhairc Leasa Shóisialaigh do 2005.
In accordance with the provisions of Section 308(1) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, I submit the report of the Social Welfare Appeals Office for the year ended 31 December 2006.
Brian Flynn
Chief Appeals Officer
May 2007
Foreword
This Annual Report contains statistical data on the work of the Social Welfare Appeals Office in 2006 when the number of appeals received was almost identical to last year and the number of appeals cases carried carried over into 2007 was reduced slightly. Some 46% of those who appealed had a favourable outcome to the process which is in line with outcomes for previous years.
The report also contains commentary on issues arising from appeals, as discussed with Appeals Officers, the Health Service Executive and the Department of Social and Family Affairs, as well as a selection of case studies determined by Appeals Officers during the year. The case studies give an indication of the type of questions that gave rise to an appeal and the consideration given to those questions by Appeals Officers. A larger collection of appeals cases is contained on my Office's website www.socialwelfareappeals.ie.
In reflecting on the year's achievements, my thanks are due to the commitment and co-operation of all the staff of my Office, present and past, and I am very happy to record tha here. I would also like to thank the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the Health Service Executive for their co-operation with our work.
The ongoing challenge for a service organisation, such as my Office, is to create a more caring and responsive relationship with the many thousands of customers who seek our assistance each year. Not all appeals can succeed and all appellants cannot get what they want. Nonetheless, our goal is to provide a service that is independent of the decision being appealed, accessible to our customers, fair and courteous in terms of our processes and prompt as regards our service delivery. We want our customers at all times to have an adequate opportunity to have their say and to get the best possible outcome in the individual circumstances of their case.
This annual report is being published in bi-lingual form. If you have any comments on any aspect of the report, please get in touch with me.
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