Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason rent support has not been paid in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if she will further investigate the reason for the continued delay in the issue of payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40714/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The position is as outlined in reply to Question No. 36 of 8th of December 2011.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 195: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she expects mortgage interest support to be paid in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40719/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The person concerned applied for mortgage interest supplement in September 2011. A decision will be made in this case on receipt of all the documentation requested.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the current or expected position in the relation to the determination of entitlement in respect of disability allowance and invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if payment of supplementary welfare will issue in the interim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40720/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I confirm that the Department is in receipt of an application for disability 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, medical condition and habitual residence status is approximately 17 weeks.

This Department had earlier received a claim for invalidity pension from the person concerned. The medical evidence provided was examined by a medical assessor who found that the person concerned is not eligible for invalidity pension as he does not satisfy the medical criteria. The deciding officer accepted this opinion, the claim was disallowed and the person was notified of this decision on 10 November 2011.

The person submitted further medical evidence in relation to his invalidity claim which was reviewed by a medical assessor but this did not alter the original decision. The person has been notified of the result of the review.

The person concerned is currently in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of illness benefit applications refused and approved in the past 12-month period available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40746/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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In the twelve month period from 1 December 2010 to 30 November 2011 the Department processed 297,030 claims for illness benefit. 257,717 claims were approved for payment, 33,707 were disallowed and 5,606 were cancelled or withdrawn.