Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 471: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for family income supplement received on an annual basis in the past three years to date; the number approved or refused in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28485/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. FIS claims

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 472: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for dental or optical benefit currently awaiting a decision in his Department; when he expects to have matters brought up to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28486/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Treatment Benefit is a PRSI based scheme offering assistance towards the cost of Dental/Optical Treatment for qualified patients. Payment is made not to the customers themselves but to contractors (dentists and opticians) on their behalf, who provide treatment at a reduced rate. Consequently, by the time the Department receives an actual claim, the customer has almost always already received his or her treatment and it is the contractor who is waiting to be paid in the agreed monthly payment.

The Treatment Benefit scheme currently has around 7,300 claims waiting to be processed, and a further 265 claims awaiting information from employers, the customers, and other EU countries. This is a normal amount, representing less than one weeks intake of claims.

In terms of new claims to be dealt with, the Treatment Benefit Scheme is meeting its processing targets. Over 90% of qualified claims received in June, for instance, will be paid to the contractors in July. The remaining cases will be processed as soon as the Department receives the additional information requested.