Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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400. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which the waiting time for a decision in respect of applications for various social welfare payments has been shortened; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8145/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department understands the many pressures faced by customers and always seeks to ensure that claims are handled quickly and efficiently. I am pleased to report that claim processing is up to date, with processing targets met, or exceeded, on average for all the main scheme areas.

Carer's Allowance and Carer's Benefit claims are being processed an average of two weeks quicker than they were compared to a year previously and Child Benefit claims are being processed an average of one week quicker than they were compared to a year previously.

Processing times vary across schemes, depending on the differing qualification criteria. Schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of illness-related schemes, can take longer to process. Similarly, means-tested payments can also require more detailed investigations and interaction with the customer, thereby lengthening the decision-making process.

The table below gives the average weeks to award for all main schemes as of December 2023.

In addition, the staffing needs of my Department are regularly reviewed, having regard to workloads and the competing demands arising, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.