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

I am advised that the current average number of weeks to award carer's allowance and carer's benefit currently stand at 17 weeks and 14 weeks, respectively. However, the vast majority of applicants do not wait that long. Some 70% of carer's allowance applications and 90% of carer's benefit applications are decided in less than 12 weeks. However, I fully appreciate that the delay can be very distressing for the 30% and 10% of applicants who must wait more than 12 weeks. The Minister, Deputy Regina Doherty, is working on the issue and I have discussed it with her. I will ask her to furnish the Deputy with more detail on the actions being taken by the Department to reduce the waiting times.

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