John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 75: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the processing time it takes for individual social welfare offices to deal with a claim for jobseeker's allowance to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21689/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 38, 39, 46, 49 and 75 together.

The national average processing times for jobseeker claims decided during April were 2.33 weeks for jobseeker's benefit and 6.92 weeks for jobseeker's allowance. This compares to processing times of 2.12 weeks and 7.10 weeks respectively in March. Processing times can be affected by the requirements of the schemes such as a means assessment or it may be necessary to ascertain details of foreign insurance records. I have made available to the House a table showing the processing times at each local office during April. The total number of jobseekers awaiting a decision on their claim at 15 May was 45,505. This is a reduction of more than 7,000 compared to the figures one month earlier on 10 April 2010 and represents 9% of the total jobseeker claim load nationwide.

Deputies will agree that over the past year or more we have made significant efforts to reduce processing times and the number of claims awaiting a decision. The national average processing times are very close to the targets of having 90% of jobseeker's benefit claims decided within three weeks and 90% of jobseekers allowance claims decided within six weeks.

As has previously been said in the House, when we look back over several years when the live register was at its lowest, there was always approximately 9% or 10% of claims awaiting a decision. The current performance should be seen in the context that in 2009 alone, local offices received over 670,000 jobseeker claims and so far this year they have received more than 200,000 claims.

I have also made available to the House a table showing the breakdown of jobseeker's benefit, JB, and jobseeker's allowance, JA, claims awaiting a decision at each local office. These data have been compiled from data that is maintained on a local office catchment area basis and these figures do not correspond exactly with county boundaries. The House will be aware of the particular difficulties presented due to the huge rise in unemployment in the past 18 months or so and the pressure this has brought to bear on the network of local and branch offices and in the inspectorate. To alleviate some of this pressure since May 2008, some 450 extra staff have been assigned to local offices, new central support units and to the Department's inspectorate. At the same time the Department has been examining all procedures surrounding the claim acceptance and decisions process with a view to streamlining them and achieving greater efficiencies where possible. These initiatives include the introduction of an appointment system whereby customers can have their claim taken and decided during the appointment. This particular initiative has helped greatly in reducing waiting times and improving processing times. This system is in operation in 38 local offices and there are plans to extend it to further offices.

There is now a more streamlined procedure for customers moving to jobseeker's allowance when their jobseeker's benefit expires. There is also a streamlined process for people who had a claim in the previous two years. The Department has the application forms for the jobseeker schemes on its website, which means that anyone who wants to make a claim can print the form at home and bring it to the local office completed. This helps to reduce queuing times. It is now easier and more straightforward for customers to supply evidence of their identity and address. The Department has also simplified processing methods for some customers who work casually, part-time or on systematic short-time work.

I appreciate the importance of getting claims decided as quickly as possible and I assure the House that staff in local offices and in the Department's inspectorate are doing all they can to ensure that claims are processed as quickly as possible. There are still some offices where processing times and claims awaiting a decision are not as good as we would like. We will strive to reduce processing times and the number of claims awaiting a decision even further where we can, either through streamlining processes and procedures further or through the introduction of new technology to assist with claims processing.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The Minister described the context to us of where we are and where we were. It is very difficult to deal with a couple before one in a clinic who cannot pay their mortgage or ESB bills and whose telephone has been cut off, who cannot afford to clothe and properly feed their family because they are waiting for their application to be processed. One cannot just tell them that due to the unemployment situation being worse they will have to expect to wait a bit longer. One needs to have a feel for the position in which they find themselves.

The Minister has told us half the story. The questions relate to jobseeker's allowance. What about the length of time it is taking for appeals? What does the Minister intend to do to address that? The average time taken to assess an appeal for jobseeker's allowance and means is almost 23 weeks and more than 18 weeks for the rest of jobseeker's allowance and jobseeker's benefit.

The average waiting time is not seven weeks everywhere. There is a continuing problem in the social welfare office in Edenderry which happens to be in my constituency. This is my fifth Question Time to ask the Minister about the Edenderry office. The waiting time there is still 14.5 weeks. Why are the schemes-----

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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There are a number of specific questions.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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-----not working there? Deputy Feighan will probably raise the same matter of difficulties in the Boyle office. The Minister is failing utterly to tackle the problem in specific areas. What does he intend to do about that?

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I agree with the Deputy about the importance of ensuring that people get answers as speedily as possible on social welfare claims. As Deputy Enright is aware, it is also important and it is a big help when people provide all the information requested urgently. In the same way as Deputy Enright, I have often dealt with cases in my office which involved helping people to get the necessary paperwork together in order that the claim could be dealt with. In the specific case outlined by the Deputy, I remind her that a supplementary welfare allowance is available for people in urgent need while they wait for a decision.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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How can that be paid out in a week by a community welfare officer who still has to be fairly sure that the claimant is entitled, yet it can take a significant length of time to make an application through the Department?

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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That is a discretionary payment. I understand a relatively small number of people applying for payment get supplementary welfare. However, it is available. We must have a discretionary system in place that can provide a quick answer on a short-term basis but obviously the issue of jobseeker's allowance and jobseeker's benefit is a longer term one.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The Minister still has not given the information.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Obviously, the payment of jobseeker's allowance or benefit is a longer-term issue.

I will comment on the appeals issue even though it is not the subject of this question. One of the other questions that have been tabled is about this issue. I am concerned about the length of time it takes to deal with appeals. I assure the Deputy that the response to the other question will make it clear that I am taking specific action to try to deal with the appeals backlog. I agree with the Deputy that the backlog of appeals unfortunately means that this process is taking an unacceptable length of time. I am dealing with that.

I was asked specifically about Edenderry. An additional social welfare investigator was assigned to Edenderry last October. However, the inspectors in Edenderry have no premises that is suitable for desk interviews.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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There are many empty buildings in the town that could be used.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Consequently, almost all jobseeker's allowance claims involve an at-home visit. This has had a severe impact on processing times in this area. The OPW recently advertised for accommodation in Edenderry. This will improve customer service by providing accommodation for two welfare inspectors and a facilitator, thus providing a facility for desk assessments rather than home visits. The OPW is currently evaluating responses with a view to securing suitable accommodation as quickly as possible. That issue is being dealt with.

Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Approximately a year ago, I raised the unacceptable length of the waiting list in the Boyle area, where people were having to wait for up to 19 weeks to have their cases dealt with. Has that problem been alleviated in the past few months?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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If a specific question on the matter were tabled to the Minister, he may be able to assist.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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We have asked general questions as well.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I do not have the information in respect of Boyle, unfortunately. I will get an answer for the Deputy.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The average figures are fine. I have to acknowledge the progress that has been made in that regard. Difficulties continue to exist in certain areas, however. Can the Minister tell us what the longest waiting time for the payment of jobseeker's allowance is? The main problems seem to be in the branch offices, rather than the local offices. I do not know if the Minister agrees. Has he considered devising a particular strategy to deal with the branch offices? Now that additional staff have been taken on, can the Minister tell us whether he believes the full complement of staff has been reached? Is he looking for additional staff? There is a concern that the diversion of staff into the processing of claims means the Department is not as active as it should be in terms of fraud detection.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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It is not active where it should be active.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I do not know of any requests for extra staff. I will double-check that. I was also asked about the longest time for a claim. A table that will be circulated sets out the relevant time in each office. I have to say that in my experience, cases in which claims are not dealt with for a very long time often relate to people not providing information. Therefore, it is not always a measure of the efficiency of the office.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Why is it worse in some places than in others?

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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What office has the longest waiting times?

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The list I am circulating will provide that information. It takes 12 weeks for jobseeker's allowance to be processed in Blanchardstown, for example. It takes just 1.72 for jobseeker's benefit to be processed there. We will have to deal with offices with long delay times. If it is a question of individuals with long delay times-----

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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No, we are talking about offices.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Okay. There are offices with waiting times of two weeks for jobseeker's allowance.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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What about Boyle?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Minister will circulate a table providing the information.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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A quick perusal of the table shows that there is a waiting time of 12 weeks.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Minister has given an answer in relation to Boyle. He does not have the information.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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He does have the table.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I have the table here. The waiting time in Boyle for jobseeker's benefit is 3.08 weeks for jobseeker's benefit and 8.74 weeks in the other case. It does not have the longest waiting time. I did not realise it was in such a handy format here.

Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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It has improved.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The waiting time for jobseeker's benefit in Blanchardstown is 1.72 weeks. It is 12.49 weeks in the case of jobseeker's allowance.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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It is not acceptable that people in the Blanchardstown area have to wait three months to get jobseeker's allowance payments.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I accept that.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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What action is the Minister taking to deal with that?

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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It is not just because they are filling the forms in wrong.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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As I have said, a great deal of work has been done on the global scheme to deal with delays. I agree that we have to keep working with a particular focus on areas where there are unacceptable delays in processing claims.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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What does that mean?

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy can be absolutely sure-----

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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What will the Minister do about it?

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I cannot give the Deputy chapter and verse for each individual office. I will work with my officials. I will continue to stress that we need to take action on a range of fronts, as outlined in the answer, to deal with the delays that exist. That can involve the use of technology and staff, etc. I agree with Deputies that it is important for people to get a speedy service from the Department. In general, the Department makes a valiant effort to provide that kind of service.