To ask the Minister for Communities to detail any action his Department is taking to reduce the average processing time for Personal Independence Payment appeals, given that the average time taken from date appeal received to date disposed or closed, was 49.13 weeks in 2025-26.

The Appeals Service (NI) is progressing a range of measures to improve timeliness across appeals, including Personal Independence Payment.

These measures include a case progression project which has reduced the number of adjournments, a legacy caseload prioritisation initiative which is reducing the number of outstanding complex cases, and a

modernisation programme which includes the development of an electronic information sharing platform and an increased use of online applications.

The establishment of a new dedicated communications team has improved first point of contact response and service accessibility for appellants.