Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

I raised two specific matters. The Minister is referring to the review procedure. When that was introduced it took three to four weeks to come to a decision, but it is now taking 12 to 16 weeks, so something is seriously wrong. The overall waiting period is absolutely unacceptable.

The Minister responded to a question I asked some time ago on the matter of emergency applications. People have passed away during the course of this process. It should be possible to allow for emergency applications to be made, but that does not appear to be the case currently.

I brought to the Minister’s attention some time ago the case of an application for carer’s allowance in which the carer had changed. A sister or brother was no longer able to care for the person concerned and a new application was made, which again took 32 weeks to be decided on. I suggested that, while a means test for the carer is necessary, the entire process could have been shortened by acceptance of the original medical evidence.

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