Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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5. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average waiting time for decisions on carer's allowance and domiciliary care allowance payments; the number of persons awaiting decisions on such payments, including the length of time involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2133/18]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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It has come to my attention that those waiting for decisions on carer's allowance and domiciliary care allowance paymentds can wait for anything between nine and 18 months for them. My question is about the number of persons waiting for such decisions and the length of time involved. Will the Minister make a statement on the matter?

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy for asking this important question.

The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection is committed to providing a quality service for all of its customers and their families. This includes ensuring applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible. Before a decision can be made on entitlement to carer’s allowance, evidence must be provided of the care recipient’s care requirements, the level of care the carer provides and the carer’s means. In general, applications under social welfare schemes with a number of complex qualifying conditions can take longer to process. This is compounded if the documentary evidence provided at the initial application stage is incomplete or insufficient. This is often the case in the case of carer’s allowance applications.

At the end of 2017 the average waiting time in processing new carer’s allowance applications was 17 weeks, with 5,284 applications awaiting decision. The number of carer's allowance applications in hand is also a consequence of the continued increased intake of claims, with the number of applications in 2017 being 26% higher than in 2015. Therefore, the second reason is the huge increase in the number of applications received.

Staff have been reassigned within the carer’s allowance area to work on claims processing and it is expected that this will improve processing times under the scheme in the coming weeks. A redesigned application form will be published shortly. The new form will allow carers to provide more information on the type and level of care they provide, with the aim of providing deciding officers with the information they need to expedite decisions on entitlement. We are, therefore, also hoping the new redesigned application form will speed up the process.

The Department experienced delays in the processing of domiciliary care allowance claims during 2017 owing to a number of factors. First, there was a significant increase in the number of applications being received. The year-on-year increase in recent years has consistently been in the 15% to 20% range. Second, following a High Court ruling in 2016, there is a need for the Department’s medical officer and deciding officer to provide more detailed reasons for their decision when communicating it to the customer. Corrective actions were taken by the Department, including the allocation of additional resources. The time required to finalise domiciliary care allowance claims has returned to the departmental standard, with claims being processed within 12 weeks on average during December 2017. At the end of December, there were 1,240 domiciliary care allowance claims awaiting processing, representing a claims intake of just over two months.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I recognise that there is some positivity in the Minister of State's answer. However, I am informed that it takes between nine and 18 months to make a decision. Are applicants for domciliary care allowance and carer's allowance waiting for periods between nine and 18 months? Neither figure was mentioned by the Minister of State who gave average waiting times. Persons in need of care cannot wait for decisions. There is something wrong with a system that, by the Minister of State's own admission, has an in-built delay of 17 weeks. We know on the ground that the delay is much longer. In addition, there is an appeals system which results in further delays. What is the Minister of State saying to those at home in need and those who are exhausted in providing care which they do with love because they have been beaten down by the system?

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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There are issues, for which I totally accept responsibility, but I can equally tell the Deputy that corrective actions are being taken by the Government. To my knowledge, at the end of December a claims intake of just over two months was awaiting processing. That is what I am being told by departmental officials. The Government acknowledges the crucial role carers play in society. It is important, therefore, that the Deputy know that we are fully committed to supporting carers in their role. Reform and investment are under way. The carer's allowance is paid to persons providing full-time care and attention for elderly people or people with disabilities whose income falls within certain limits. It is also important to state there are 74,887 persons in receipt of the carer's allowance, with 44,000 qualified dependent children. Expenditure in 2017 was €694 million. The figure for domiciliary care allowance payments which are made to 34,000 families is €200 million. A strong message is being sent that we are providing support for carers in society. We respect and value their work. There are many more issues related to the national disability inclusion strategy to be dealt with in the next two to three years. We have started to rebuild and invest in carers. We will also make our best efforts to reduce waiting times.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The difficulty is that the Minister of State is quoting overall figures. We acknowledge that the country could not function without the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. That is a given. We also know from witnesses appearing before the Committee of Public Accounts that sometimes there is a deliberate policy not to give documentation. We took issue with this and argued that it was an appalling thing to say. Some 99% of people move forward with documentation. The Minister of State is telling the House the numbers of people who are benefiting.

We know that. They benefit as of right. They are saving the State an absolute fortune. The Minister of State knows that better than anyone.

What specific actions are being taken, and on what timeline? What is a reasonable period to process an application? I would have thought a matter of weeks - at the maximum, three weeks. What needs to be done to ensure that? What staff have been put in place? I really would like a specific answer so that I and my colleagues will not be standing up here again asking these questions. It should be a matter of course.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I have already covered it. I do not know where the Deputy is going here on this question. We have put in extra staff to resolve the problem. The direct answer to the Deputy's question is that the claims, in accordance with departmental standards, are processed within 12 weeks on average during December 2017.

Of course we recognise that there are problems. There are people who, in filling in the forms, make mistakes. That is life. That is the way it is. We are changing the application form as well, to modernise it and make it consumer-friendly.

We are also investing a lot of funding in services for the carers. We are sending out a strong message here today, unlike the Deputy, that we support the carers in this country and we are doing our best to support the carers. That is something that is important to the State.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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That is an appalling comment.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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We have an important national disability inclusion strategy and that will be implemented over the next four years.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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That is an appalling comment, to say we are sending out a message that we do not care. That is an appalling comment.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I said some Opposition Members, like the Deputy.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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It is an appalling comment from a Minister.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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It is not.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I ask the Minister of State to withdraw it. He made it in the heat of the moment.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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Absolutely not. I have listened to Deputy Connolly for the past 12 months on many of these issues.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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That is a personal attack from a Minister. That is unacceptable.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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Deputy Connolly never acknowledges.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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That is an appalling comment.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Perhaps Deputy Connolly can find another way to proceed.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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This is an appalling comment.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I realise there was-----

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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This is unacceptable. It is out of order from a Minister.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I realise there was an accusation.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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Deputy Connolly has been out of order.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The Minister of State has added to his cause.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Hold on. I will decide whether it is out of order or not, Minister. I realise that there was an accusation that the Minister of State is pursuing this and it is unnecessary. Perhaps the Minister of State wants to respond to that. If not-----

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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Accusation of what?

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Sorry?

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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What was the accusation?

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister's interpretation.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The Minister of State accused me of coming here and not recognising the work that has been done and saying no work has been done, and worse. He has added to that. I ask the Minister of State simply to withdraw that.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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If the Minister of State wants to clarify-----

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I have asked the Minister of State a question in relation to it.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Sorry, Deputy Connolly, no. Let us not be acrimonious.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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What I stated clearly-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister of State, if he wants, may clarify.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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-----was that many Opposition Deputies, including Deputy Connolly-----

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The Minister of State did not say that.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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-----make this criticism and do not acknowledge enough the work that has been done.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The Minister of State stated he listened to me for a year being negative. It is an appalling comment from him.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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We have to move on. Deputy Connolly will have to find another way to address the matter. We move on to Question No. 6.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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That is my point.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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It is an appalling comment from the Minister of State.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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It is not appalling. Deputy Connolly can give it but she cannot take it. That is the Deputy's problem.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The Minister of State is disgraceful.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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The Deputy can give it but she cannot take it.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The Minister of State is disgraceful and he is adding to it.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I am sure that the Deputy will find another way. We move to Question No. 6 in the name of Deputy McConalogue.