Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 369: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the basis on which the community welfare officer came to the conclusion that an exceptional needs payment is not warranted at this time as per his reply to Parliamentary Question No 565 of 2 April 2008 in view of he fact the person in question had to borrow to meet arrears and the meeting with the money advice and budgeting service did not deal with the arrears and that they must repay their borrowings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14993/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the HSE, an exceptional needs payment (ENP) may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which the applicant is unable to meet out of his/her own resources. There is no automatic entitlement to this payment. Each application is determined by the Executive based on the particular circumstances of the case.

The Health Service Executive has advised that the person concerned is in receipt of a rent supplement (in addition to a one parent family payment, and a reduced rate illness benefit payment) at the maximum rates payable appropriate to her circumstances.

The Community Welfare Officer (CWO) has confirmed that the payment of an ENP is not warranted in this particular case as the arrears of rent arose, not due to a reduction in social welfare payments to the person concerned, but as a result of non payment of rent which is not regarded as an exceptional need.

The Executive have further advised that the person concerned, on the advice of the (CWO), contacted the local Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), which provides assistance to people who are over-indebted and need help and advice in coping with their debt problems. The CWO has been in contact with the person concerned a number of times before and also since the rent arrears arose and he has in each instance outlined the level of social welfare payments due to her in addition to outlining the breakdown of each specific welfare payment.

The person concerned was previously informed of her right to appeal the decision to the designated appeals officer of the Executive and it is still open to the person concerned to appeal the decision should she wish to do so.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 370: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a matter has been finalised for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo as it has been ongoing for quite some time; and if so, the outcome of same. [13933/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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A Social Welfare Inspector is currently examining further details received on 11 April 2008, regarding the earnings of the person concerned. A decision on his jobseeker's allowance claim will be made as soon as possible and he will be notified of the outcome.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 371: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the recommended or targeted time for the processing of child benefit applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14022/08]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 372: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of applications for child benefit which were submitted to his Department over twelve months ago or more and are still awaiting a decision; and the nationality of the applicants. [14023/08]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 373: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of applications for child benefit that are currently waiting on a decision by his Department. [14024/08]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 374: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the average processing time by his Department for child benefit claims. [14025/08]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 375: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of staff currently working in the child benefit section of his Department; his plans to increase this number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14026/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 371 to 375, inclusive, together.

Child benefit section received over 90,000 new applications in 2007 for some 113,000 children of which some 65,000 were for children born in Ireland. The target time for processing of Irish-born child benefit applications is 90% of claims within two weeks of receipt.

Claims for Irish-born children are processed in an automated or semi-automated manner — using data received electronically from the General Registrars Office. As a result, this target is regularly met for Irish-born children. Childcare Supplement is paid automatically when Child Benefit is awarded and some 65,000 Irish-born children were paid in this manner in 2007.

Approximately 13,000 claims that were received before April 2007 are at various stages of processing. Almost all these claims relate to foreign nationals and are to be decided under EU regulations. Approximately 80% of the claims are from Polish nationals and the balance is comprised largely of persons from the other accession states.

In total, some 30,000 claims are on hand to be finalised. Of these, approximately 20,000 relate to claims for non-resident children under EU regulations. The balance relate mainly to non-Irish nationals, resident in Ireland with their families. These customers must satisfy the habitual residency test to qualify for payment. This involves the completion of an enquiry form, and checks regarding the customer's employment, the family's residency status and other circumstances. These checks can take some time to complete. Of the 30,000 claims on hand, some 50% have been partly processed and are awaiting further information from either the customer or the authorities in the claimant's home country to allow them to be finalised.

There are currently 96 permanent and 10 temporary staff working in the child benefit section. The temporary staff have been employed since September 2007 specifically to deal with arrears of claims from non-Irish nationals. A review of processes in the section has recently been concluded and further additional resources are being assigned, bringing the staffing level including both permanent and temporary staff to 115.

The increase in staff numbers, coupled with the use of extensive overtime and the implementation of a number of other process improvements, will result in an improvement in processing time and a reduction in the numbers of claims on hand during 2008.