Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 332: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of applications for family income support lodged with his Department and awaiting a decision at present; the average processing time for FIS applications; his plans to reduce the average processing time for such applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18530/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Family Income Supplement (FIS) is an income support for employees on low earnings with families. There are some 21,055 people in receipt of a weekly FIS payment with a current average weekly value of over €139.

Entitlement to FIS is based on an applicant satisfying a means test and on certification of employment by the employer. My Department has publicised the scheme regularly in order to maximise uptake by qualified families. Following significant increases in the income limits in the 2006 budget, my Department undertook a week-long nationwide awareness campaign in March of that year to encourage increased take up of the scheme.

This campaign, combined with the improvements in the income limits, resulted in a strong upward trend in the level of new claims. During 2006 some 13,608 new claims were received. This compared with 7,781 in 2005 — an increase of 75%.

Family Income Supplement is paid for 52 weeks, provided a person continues to meet the qualifying conditions, and a claim for renewal may then be made. The volume of claims for renewals has increased in line with the upward trend in new claims. Renewals to 23rd June 2007 are 12,278 compared to 9,889 received in the same period in 2006. This increase of 24% has resulted in an increase in the number of claims on hand.

To date in 2007, my Department has received 19,039 new and renewal FIS claims and has decided a total of 15,309 cases. At 23/6/07 there were 8,005 claims awaiting decision. These were comprised of 3,371 new claims and 4,634 renewal claims. The average time it takes to award a FIS claim or renewal in 2007 (up to the end of May) is 10-16 weeks.

My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are issued as expeditiously as possible having regard to the eligibility conditions which apply. Accordingly measures have been introduced to directly address the timeliness of claim processing for FIS:

A review of existing processes and procedures has been undertaken with the explicit objective of reducing delays in claim processing;

Priority is being given to claims where a claim is being renewed to ensure continuity of payment;

Additional resources have been assigned specifically to improve delivery of service and the ongoing staffing requirement is under review.

These measures will, over time, lead to more efficient processing and reduce the number of claims on hand. The position will be closely monitored and kept under review by my Department.