Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The area of disability payments, for example, is still undergoing reform. At the end of April 2013 over 4,000 people were awaiting a decision, whereas in April 2014, the number was down to 2,750. The average processing time of disability allowance applications going through the social welfare appeals system has dropped from 10.2 weeks in 2013 to 9.6. Departmental delays have been reduced considerably, too. I can supply tables to the Deputy outlining the progress made.

Deputies Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Joan Collins have a particular insight into this area and it is critically important that they share with us their ideas on how the schemes could be improved. It is important to provide income support for those who are entitled to it. That means, among other things, that medical advisers have to be very clear. The quality of information provided by them can vary wildly from case to case, but we will continue to work to improve processing times. In that context, I compliment the staff involved. Sometimes people can be very critical of public servants, but staff in my Department are working very hard to improve the system and have done so.

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