Written answers

Tuesday, 23 November 2010

Department of Social and Family Affairs

Social Welfare Benefits

9:00 am

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he has conducted a cost-benefit analysis prior to cutting the dental treatment benefit scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43821/10]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The current budgetary position necessitated the changes made to social welfare benefits, including the dental treatment benefit scheme, in Budget 2010. From January 2010 the treatments available have been limited to a free dental examination. Current trends in 2010 indicate that around 280,000 people will receive the free dental examination. These have been retained in order to encourage people to continue attending for checkups and help address the concerns expressed about the general dental health of the public.

In addition to this, some 210,000 customers who had applied for approval to commence treatment prior to the end of 2009, either directly to the Department or through their practitioners, will receive the full range of treatments as available under the schemes prior to 1st January 2010.

There is also strong evidence that increased competition in the market is having an effect on price. Shortly after the announcement of the changes to the scheme, for example, one major dental chain announced a price cut of 30%, and the Irish Dental Association (IDA) subsequently announced that its members would either freeze or reduce their prices. Indeed I understand that recently the IDA estimated that around 50% of dentists have reduced their prices during 2010. Developments such as these are to be welcomed as they will make treatment more affordable for consumers.

Tax refunds are available from the Revenue Commissioners for certain kinds of more expensive dental treatments.

While a full-scale cost-benefit analysis was not possible, decisions were taken with the public health in mind. Tax refunds, enhanced competition, and the retention of free examinations all mean that routine dental care should remain affordable and widely available in Ireland.

Photo of Ciarán LynchCiarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the action he is taking to address the delays on disability allowance claims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43841/10]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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To be eligible for disability allowance, a claimant must (inter alia) satisfy a medical examination, a means test and be habitually resident in the state. The processing time for individual disability allowance claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main criteria listed above. Certain claims have to be referred to social welfare inspectors for means investigation and this can add to the overall processing times. In addition, factors outside the department's control can have an impact, for example, the supply of relevant information by the customer, employers or other third parties.

The volume of disability allowance claims has increased in recent years as the scheme rules changed to, for example, extend eligibility to persons in residential care and to persons aged 16-18 whose family were previously in receipt of domiciliary care allowance. The general growth in the population and the relatively beneficial terms available to disability allowance applicants, compared to other EU countries, have also had an impact on this growth. Going forward, my Department is addressing the challenge posed by this increased level of activity by deploying new computerised processing systems.

In the meantime, measures taken to reduce delays in claim processing include an increase in the number of claims being desk assessed thus reducing the number of cases being referred for investigation by social welfare inspectors. Since August 2009 all claims are now being desk assessed by medical assessors to determine medical suitability, ongoing review of existing processes and procedures and the approval of overtime working.

In the meantime, people who have urgent income support needs can apply for the means tested supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) from their local community welfare officer.

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.

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