Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 326: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of families waiting for child benefit claims to be processed; the number of these in which the parents are foreign nationals; the average waiting time to process an application for child benefit; and the way these figures compare with November 2005, November 2006 and November 2007. [43511/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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There is no delay in processing the majority of Child Benefit applications. Awards for Irish-born children are processed either automatically or in a partially automated way using the child's birth details when they are registered with the General Registrar's Office. The average processing time for these claims is less than 10 days. Payments on behalf of some 70,000 children were paid this way in 2007.

Currently there are delays in processing Child Benefit claims for children born outside Ireland who have come to live in Ireland with their parents, and also claims for children who reside in another EU member state but have an entitlement to Irish Child Benefit under EU regulations (non-resident children).

In the case of non-Irish born children resident in Ireland, these cases are slower to process as the customer must satisfy the Habitual Residency condition test and this may entail contacting employers, the Department of Justice and other relevant bodies to confirm their status in the state. The residence of the children in Ireland must also be confirmed. This additional complexity, combined with an increase in the volume of applications received in recent years, has led to arrears of claims to be processed. This is currently being addressed. There are a total of 5,300 such claims awaiting processing. A further 2,250 cases, where the Department is waiting on additional information to finalise the claims have been partially processed.

Additional staff resources have been assigned to this area and it is envisaged that the remaining claims on hand will be cleared in the early part of 2009. Average processing time for these claims at present is 8 months. EU nationals who come to work in Ireland but whose families remain in their home country may have an entitlement to Family Benefits in Ireland under EU Regulation 1408/71. Before payment of Child Benefit is made for these non-resident children it is necessary amongst other things, to contact the authorities in the country of residence of the children to confirm details and establish what, if any, family benefits are payable in the home country as this will determine entitlement to Irish payments. This process can take a number of months to complete in normal circumstances. There are some 7,100 such claims awaiting processing, with a further 3,000 cases where the Department is waiting on additional information to finalise the claims. These claims are being processed with the assistance of additional temporary staff recruited for this purpose. It is anticipated that these claims will be cleared during the first half of 2009. At this point it is taking an average of 18 months to process these claims to completion.

Details of the average waiting time to process an application and the comparative figures for 2005-2007 are not available, however 15% more claims were cleared in 2008 to end October than in the same period in 2007.

The processing time for a Child Benefit claim depends on the complexity of the individual claim and the volume of such claims that have been received at that point in time. Claims for children born outside Ireland, whether living in Ireland or not, are taking significantly longer to process at present than they did prior to the substantial increase in the number of claims received since 2006.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 327: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the average cost per applicant of the rent allowance scheme; the number of persons accommodated under this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43613/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As of 21st November 2008, there were 71,219 people in receipt of rent supplement and the average weekly supplement was €127.61.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 328: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of applications received for mortgage interest supplement, the number of claimants awarded mortgage interest supplement and the number of applicants refused mortgage interest supplement to date in 2008; the number of appeals received to reverse the decision to refuse mortgage interest supplement; the average length of time it takes to decide an appeal in both the Health Service Executive and the social welfare appeals office; the number of successful appeals; the number of outstanding appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43758/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered by the community welfare service of the Health Service Executive on behalf of the Department, provides for a weekly or monthly supplement to be paid in respect of mortgage interest. As of 21st November 2008, there were 7,347 people in receipt of mortgage interest supplement, an increase of 3,236 (80%) over those in payment at end 2007.

Statistics are not held on the number of people who applied for or were refused mortgage interest supplement. The scheme is delivered locally by community welfare officers (CWOs), who interview claimants when they first present to enquire about their possible entitlement for mortgage interest supplement. Claim details are recorded electronically only in cases where it is established that mortgage interest supplement is payable.

Under existing arrangements, an appeal against a decision on entitlement to supplementary welfare allowance is made in the first instance to a designated appeals officer in the HSE. A person may, if they so wish, make a further appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office, if they are dissatisfied with the decision of the HSE appeals officer. Details of the number of mortgage interest supplement appeals to the HSE Appeals Office are currently being compiled by the HSE and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as they become available.

Statistics on the number of mortgage interest supplement decisions appealed to the Social Welfare Appeals Office and the outcomes are provided in the following tabular statement. This shows that 37 appeals were finalised in the first ten months of 2008 in relation to mortgage interest supplement. Some 25 of these were disallowed. That office has advised that they do not hold details of the average duration of a mortgage interest supplement appeal. The average duration of a supplementary welfare allowance appeal in 2007 was 8 weeks while the average for all appeals determined during 2007 was 22 weeks.