People are being denied disability allowance and are not being given oral hearings. Every case I am working on gets a standard reply asking for further information. I respect that this change happened during Covid, but it is important that hearings be brought back, as this approach is affecting people and their illnesses. They need to have these hearings. I ask that the Taoiseach examine this matter.

Another issue is that of carer’s allowance appeals. It takes eight months for appeals to come through. Again, each reply asks for further information. Is it due to staffing? What is happening? In my lifetime, I have never seen it take so long for people to get disability or carer’s allowance or whatever. This issue needs to be addressed. I would appreciate the Taoiseach reverting to me on it.

I thank the Deputy for raising these matters. As a constituency TD, I know the importance of the oral hearing, whatever way that takes place, be it virtually or in person, in terms of the person or someone on his or her behalf having the ability to put across the case in a way we cannot always capture in written form on an application form. I will seek an update from the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, on that and on waiting times for carer’s allowance appeals.