Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the average waiting time in County Meath for an application of jobseekers allowance from date of application to receipt of benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32730/08]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 143: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the average waiting time in County Meath for an application of jobseekers benefit from date of application to receipt of benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32731/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take questions number 142 and 143 together.

The Department is committed to providing a quality customer 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. These conditions vary between the two jobseeker schemes and involve, among other things, the need to establish the person's social insurance record, establish the person's identity or their place of habitual residence and to assess means where appropriate. In some cases delays arise where the person fails to supply all pertinent information in support of their application.

The average processing time in weeks for claims for jobseekers allowance (JA) and jobseekers benefit (JB) in offices in Co. Meath., are set out in the following table.