Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 255: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if an entitlement to disability allowance exists in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28486/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Disability allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged over 16 and under 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year. To qualify, a claimant must satisfy a medical assessment, a means test and be habitually resident in the state.

No application for disability allowance has been received from the person concerned to date. An application form and an information booklet for disability allowance have been sent to the person. If she wishes to apply for disability allowance she should complete and return this form in the freepost envelope provided and her entitlement will be examined.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 256: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a final decision will be made in a disability allowance claim in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28557/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The application from the person concerned for disability allowance was disallowed on the basis that his means is in excess of the statutory limit allowable for disability allowance. The person was notified in writing on 10 October 2011 of this decision.

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 257: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on an application for domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28558/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received on 19 September 2011. This application will be forwarded to one of the Department's Medical Assessors for their medical opinion on the case. Upon receipt of this opinion, a decision will issue to the customer. It should be noted that, currently, it is taking ten weeks to process an application.

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and when a decision will issue. [28564/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The person concerned was refused carer's allowance on grounds the that the Department's Medical Assessor expressed the opinion that the care recipient is not so disabled as to require full-time care and attention as prescribed in regulations. On the 7 October, she was notified of this decision and the reason(s) for it.

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 259: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for a carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and when a decision will issue. [28565/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I confirm that the Department is in receipt of an application for carer's allowance from the above named person. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. The average time taken to process a claim to completion, including assessment of the claimant's means and the entitlement of the care recipient to full time care and attention on medical grounds is approximately 16 weeks.