Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 322: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the average length of time taken in her Department to process carer's allowance and carer's benefit applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17764/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Entitlement to carer's allowance/benefit is based on an applicant satisfying medical, means and residency conditions. In determining entitlement to the allowance there are, in certain cases, unavoidable time lags involved in making the necessary investigations and enquiries to enable accurate decisions to be made. Delays can also arise if persons applying for the allowance are not in a position to supply all the necessary information in support of their claim. Many applicants for carer's allowance are already in receipt of another social welfare payment while their claim is being processed.

The average time for deciding a claim for carer's allowance is currently 18 weeks. The number of claims for carers allowance submitted in 2007 was 18,000 compared to 10,700 in 2006. This represents an increase of 68% on the total received in 2006. A total of 7,000 new applications for Carer's Allowance have been received this year to date (week end 2nd May 2008). The large increase in applications received is mainly due to the introduction of the half rate carer's allowance payment which came into effect from 27 September 2007.

Entitlement to Carer's Benefit is based on an applicant satisfying medical, employment and PRSI contribution conditions. In determining entitlement to the Benefit there are in certain cases, unavoidable time lags involved in making the necessary investigations and inquiries to enable accurate decisions to be made. Delays can also arise if persons applying for the benefit are not in a position to supply all the necessary information in support of their claim. The average time for deciding a claim for carer's benefit is currently 9 weeks. The number of claims for carer's benefit submitted in 2007 was 3,469 compared to 2,616 in 2006. This represents on average an annual increase of 33%.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 323: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved and awarded jobseeker's allowance. [17775/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned applied for jobseeker's allowance on 8 February 2008. A Deciding Officer approved his claim on 14 April 2008 and awarded him jobseeker's allowance at the weekly rate of €56.80 from 8 February 2008 and he was notified accordingly. However, the person concerned failed to sign the live register on 8 April 2008 and consequently his claim was closed from 15 April 2008. If he is currently unemployed he should contact his local Social Welfare Office, to discuss the matter. Under Social Welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by Deciding Officers and Appeals Officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 324: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a bereavement grant has been paid in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if so when it was paid. [17867/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Bereavement Grant is a payment designed to assist families in dealing with death and funeral expenses. It is a scheme that relates specifically to those who have made PRSI contributions and is payable on the death of an insured person, his/her spouse and dependent children under age 18 or under age 22 if in full-time education. In order to qualify for the bereavement grant the deceased must have:

a total of 156 PRSI contributions paid since entry into insurable employment, or

at least 26 PRSI contributions paid since entry into insurable employment and 39 PRSI contributions paid or credited in the Relevant Tax year.

The application for Bereavement Grant in respect of this person was received on 19 March 2008. Following extensive searches, this Department was unable to trace any record of contributions paid by the person or her spouse. Accordingly, on 4th April 2008 the Department notified the deceased person's son that there was no entitlement to the Bereavement Grant as the PRSI conditions were not satisfied.

Where there are insufficient PRSI contributions to qualify for bereavement grant a person may receive assistance under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. Under this arrangement, the local Community Welfare Officer may make a single payment to help meet exceptional expenditure, for example, for funeral expenses, which a family could not reasonably be expected to meet from their own resources.