Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 454: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the processing time for unemployment benefit applications; the reason for these delays; the steps she is taking to address the delays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36067/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The average processing time for applications for jobseeker's claims processed in September was 3 weeks for jobseekers benefit and 6 weeks for jobseekers allowance.

There has been a significant increase in the number of people claiming since the beginning of the year. The level of inflows to the Live Register over the period January to September 2008 inclusive was 311,660 as compared with 220,652 over the corresponding period last year representing an increase of over 41%.

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 overall performance in any individual office in processing claims can be adversely affected by a wide variety of factors; including increased inflow of claims, staff vacancies and the duration of such vacancies and the turnover of staff in the office.

The Department has taken a number of measures to deal with the increased workload arising since the beginning of the year. These measures include the allocation of additional posts to local offices, extending the contracts of some temporary staff and the allocation of additional resources for overtime. At a local level work is prioritised to deal with claim processing. These measures are kept under review.