There needs to be an improvement in the assessment system for social welfare applicants. Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Willie O'Dea, says a high level of successful appeals shows the initial application process is flawed. New figures reveal 58% of all appeals in the first eleven months of 2018 were successful. Willie O'Dea says the time and effort being put into the appeals process would be better used helping those applying for social welfare. "That's six or seven months that somebody is deprived of a benefit which legally they should be getting."

Source: Irish Examiner January 06, 2019 07:41 UTC