Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 455: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the entitlements available to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39205/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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According to the records of the Department the person concerned has paid PRSI contributions since he entered insurable employment in this State in 2001. He should call to his local social welfare office for advice on the entitlements that are available to him.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 456: To ask the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 181 of 14 October 2010, if he will arrange for a new application to be considered rather than await an appeal in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39206/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The position remains as advised to the Deputy in question number 181 of 14 October 2010. The Health Service Executive (HSE) refused rent supplement in this case on the grounds that the rent payable to the landlord was in excess of the prescribed maximum limits with regard to the personal circumstances of the person concerned. If the person concerned wishes to make a new application for rent supplement he should contact the community welfare officer at his local health centre.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 457: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when rent support will be restored in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39207/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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In the time frame available, I regret that my Department is not in a position to reply to this question. My Department will be in contact with the Deputy over the coming days and will reply in full to the question raised.

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 458: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the average processing time for illness benefit in each of the years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39212/10]

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 460: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the average processing time for injury benefit in each of the years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39214/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 458 and 460 together. The average processing times for illness benefit (IB) and occupational injury benefit (OIB) claims are as follows:

IB OIB

2006 5 days 5 days

2007 6 days 5 days

2008 8 days 6 days

2009 7 days 6 days

2010* 8 days 6 days * Up to week ending 15 October.

Claims from customers who have no other income (i.e. people who are not paid by their employer while out sick) are prioritised and, in general, processed within 3 days.

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 459: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the average processing time for disability allowance in each of the years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39213/10]

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

Average processing times in weeks for new disability allowance claims from 2006 to 2010

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

No. of weeks 14 16 15 15 13

The Department is committed to delivering the best possible service to its customers. Operational processes and procedures and the organisation of work are continually reviewed in all areas of the Department, including disability allowance section, to ensure that claims are processed and decided in the most efficient and expeditious way possible, having regard to the eligibility conditions that apply to each scheme.

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 461: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the average processing time for domiciliary care allowance in 2009 and to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39216/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Since the 1st April 2009 this Department has responsibility for the administration of the domiciliary care allowance (DCA) scheme. Prior to this date the scheme was the responsibility of the HSE. Statistics relating to the period prior to April 2009 are not held by this Department.

In 2009 the average time taken to process a DCA application in the Department was 7 weeks, the average processing to date in 2010 is under 8 weeks.

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 462: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the average processing time for family income supplement in each of the years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39218/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The average processing time for family income supplement in each of the years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and currently in 2010 are as follows:

*current figure for 2010.