Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 190: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason there has been a delay in processing a disability benefit application in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 2. [39898/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Disability Allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged over 16 and under 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency test.

The person applied for Disability Allowance on 21 August 2009. Her claim was assessed by a Medical Assessor and she was found to be medically suitable for Disability Allowance.

The person's file was forwarded to a Social Welfare Inspector and the Inspector interviewed the applicant in relation to her means. Further information is required however, before a decision can be made on her claim. The Social Welfare Inspector will be in touch with this person shortly in this regard.

A decision on the Disability Allowance claim will be given upon receipt of the Social Welfare Inspector's report and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 191: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons in receipt of jobseeker's benefit to date in 2009 by age category; the cost of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39916/09]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 192: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons in receipt of jobseeker's allowance by age category; the number of people in receipt of jobseeker's allowance by duration up to one year, between one and two years, two and three years, three and four years, four and five years, five years and above; the cost of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39917/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 192 together.

I have presented a tabular statement showing the age by duration of both jobseekers allowance and jobseekers benefit claims at the end of October 2009. The expenditure on these schemes was as follows:

2008 2009 (end Aug)

Jobseekers Allowance 1,158,851,171 1,195,628,373

Jobseekers Benefit 928,843,826 1,168,306,121

August 2009 is the latest date for which official figures are available.