Submission by Community Law & Mediation on the Department of Social Protection’s Statement of Strategy 2025 – 2028 

CLM welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Department of Social Protection on its Statement of Strategy 2024-2025. 

Social welfare entitlements are a central piece of protection against poverty in the State. Those experiencing unemployment and those who cannot work or can only work part-time due to illness, disability, or caring responsibilities rely on these essential supports.  

CLM has identified some key concerns which we believe connect directly with Strategic Objective 1 of the Statement of Strategy 2023-2026 Put the Customer at the Centre of Policy and Service Delivery, specifically the High-Level Indicators around decision appeal levels and processing times and the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty.   

These key concerns are outlined in the submission document below, under the following headings: Addressing the backlog of social welfare appeals, Transparency of the social welfare appeals system, Access to legal aid in social welfare appeals, and Recommendations.