Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 332: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the current time taken to process applications for family income supplement; her views whether this is acceptable given that the excessive waiting times are adding to the financial hardship that applicants are experiencing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18323/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.

The average waiting time for new family income supplement (FIS) claims at the end of May is 14 weeks. At the end of May, there were approximately 8,011 new FIS applications and approximately 6,289 renewal applications awaiting approval.

The volume of FIS claims on hands and the delays in processing are a consequence of continued strong claim intake.

The Department has introduced a number of measures to address the efficiency of claim processing for FIS in light of the current waiting times: · Existing processes and procedures are reviewed on an ongoing basis with the explicit objective of reducing delays in claim processing; · Priority is being given to claims where a claim is being renewed to ensure continuity of payment; · The ongoing staffing requirement is being kept under review in light of the increased volumes of claims; · Additional temporary staff are being recruited to help reduce the backlog; · Overtime working is being judiciously applied;

These measures will, over time, lead to more efficient processing and reduce the number of claims on hand. The position is being closely monitored and kept under review by the Department.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 333: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a person who has been deemed by the local authority to have a housing need but who cannot be placed on the housing list is eligible for rent allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18356/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Entitlement to rent supplement is subject to a number of qualifying conditions, one of which is that at the time of application for a rent supplement, the claimant must:

have been residing in private rented accommodation (where at the commencement of the tenancy the person could have reasonably afforded the rent and has experienced a substantial change in his or her circumstances where they are now unable to pay the rent) or accommodation for homeless persons or in an institution (or any combination of these) for a period of 183 days within the preceding 12 months of the date of claim for rent supplement,

or

have had an assessment of housing need carried out within the 12 months preceding the date of claim and have been deemed by the relevant local authority to be eligible for and in need of social housing support.

When a person has been assessed as being eligible for and in need of social housing support, the person then becomes eligible for consideration for rent supplement.