Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 15: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons on a national basis and by local social welfare office waiting for their application for jobseeker's allowance to be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17087/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 21: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will put in place immediate procedures to speed up the process of applications for unemployment assistance with particular reference to the need to alleviate hardship, anxiety and stress caused by delays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17001/09]

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 41: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the steps being taken to reduce the delays in dealing with applications for social welfare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16810/09]

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she has identified the reasons some social welfare offices have excessively high waiting periods; and if she will outline her findings. [16983/09]

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 54: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the numbers of persons on a national basis and by local social welfare office waiting for their application of jobseeker's benefit to be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17084/09]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the action she will take to address the waiting times at many social welfare offices. [17306/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 21, 41, 47, 54 and 176 together.

The Live Register has increased to unprecedented levels as a result of the economic downturn that the country is currently experiencing. There are currently almost 72,000 claims awaiting decisions for jobseeker's benefit and jobseekers allowance. Approximately 10,000 claims are decided upon in a given week. (See the following Table 1 for claims pending at April 09).

The length of time it takes to process claims varies depending on the complexity of the claim, the availability of the necessary documentation from the applicant or his/her employer and the need to carry out additional enquires including assessment of means and whether the claimant satisfies the Habitual Residence Condition.

Furthermore, processing times can vary from office to office for a number of reasons including the extent of the increased number of claims, the number of staff vacancies, the duration of such vacancies and the turnover of staff in the office which impacts on the overall level of experience in the office.

During the past year an additional 190 staff have been assigned to local offices. In addition, as many local offices are very close to capacity as regards accommodating further staff, we have set up a number of central support units around the country. Four such units are currently set up in Dublin, Sligo, Finglas and Carrick-on-Shannon. Each unit has 10 staff. It is now planned to establish three further units with 10 staff each in Roscommon, Tallaght and Wexford and these units should be operational within the next few months.

A further 16 Social Welfare Inspectors have been assigned to various locations throughout the country to undertake means testing and other work associated with processing claims for the jobseekers allowance.

It is recognised that the provision of additional staff in itself will not deal with the rising claimload. Since early 2008 we have been examining all aspects of the work associated with the processing of claims and streamlining them wherever possible without, of course, compromising our scheme controls.

The following initiatives have been introduced at all local and branch offices. A new streamlined process has been introduced for people who had a claim in the previous 2 years. The application form has been simplified so that the claimant has only to provide details of circumstances that have changed since the previous claim. A simplified procedure has been introduced for people moving to jobseekers allowance when their jobseekers benefit expires. More straight-forward procedures have been introduced for providing evidence of identity and address.

Application forms for jobseeker schemes are now available on the Department's website with comprehensive information on claiming a jobseekers payment including details of the supporting documents required. This means that a person making a claim for jobseekers benefit or allowance can download and complete a claim form and bring it to their nearest local office.

An appointment system for taking claims is in operation in the following local offices: North Cumberland Street Ballymun Tallaght Thomas Street Nutgrove Apollo House Bishops Square Dundalk Waterford Cork Listowel Galway Letterkenny Navan

There are plans to extend this system to Ballyfermot, Kilkenny and Blanchardstown over the next few weeks and it will be extended to other offices with high volumes of new claims over the coming months.

In addition, a review of the processes involved in administering claims for those who are working reduced hours i.e. part-time, casual and systematic short time is underway. The existing arrangements are very labour intensive and it is envisaged that more streamlined arrangements, which will benefit both customers and the Department, will be introduced in the near future.

These improvements are part of a programme of initiatives being developed by the Department to streamline processes and procedures in local and branch offices and it is intended that further improvements will be implemented on an ongoing basis during 2009.

The Deputy will be aware that anyone who is under financial pressure while awaiting a decision on their claim for a jobseekers payment can apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance which is subject to a means test and other qualifying conditions.