Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I cannot comment on an individual case of which I have no information or prior details, but I would encourage anyone who feels that he or she was assessed unfairly to seek a review or to appeal. That is why we have that system in place.

The Deputy mentioned the delays in processing applications for carer's allowance. That is something on which I placed a strong focus in recent months and I visited the staff in Longford to talk to them about it. We have seen a significant reduction in the average carer's allowance application processing time from 22 weeks at the end of May shortly after I took up office to 11 weeks at the end of December, and the carer's benefit application processing time has now been reduced to eight weeks. We have put additional resources into those assessments in Longford and, as a result, the waiting times for those who have applied for carer's allowance have halved.

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