Written answers

Tuesday, 19 July 2011

Department of Social Protection

Social Welfare Benefits

10:00 pm

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 296: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the payment of mortgage interest supplement to a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21398/11]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that the person concerned has been requested to complete and submit an application form for mortgage interest supplement. A decision will be made on his application when the form has been submitted.

Photo of Seán KyneSeán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 297: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe for decisions on the carer's allowance scheme; and if any measures are being taken to speed up the processing time. [21403/11]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The average time taken to award a claim for carer's allowance in the first half of 2011 was 13 weeks. A total of 8,171 applications were registered in the first half of 2011, and 6,702 were processed in the same period. There are currently 5,294 applications awaiting a decision. There are 51,134 carer's allowance claims in payment.

A major service delivery modernisation project is currently underway to improve the efficiency of the administration of carer's allowance. This involves the development of IT functionality and associated business process re-organisation. It is anticipated that the new system will introduce significant processing efficiencies and a quicker and more responsive service to the customer. Accordingly, this project is being given high priority and involves a significant level of time and commitment from the relevant staff in the Department, which has had, however, a short-term negative impact on claim processing times. The first tranche of new carer's allowance claims will begin to be processed under the new system in August 2011.

While these new systems and processes will facilitate a significant improvement in overall processing times it should be noted that individual claims may still take some time to process. Entitlement to carer's allowance is based on satisfying medical, means and residency conditions. In determining entitlement to the allowance there are, in certain cases, unavoidable time lags involved in making the necessary investigations and enquiries to enable accurate decisions to be made. Delays can also arise if people applying for the allowance are not in a position to supply all the necessary information in support of their claim.

The staff and other resources available to the department are regularly reviewed having regard to the workload and competing priorities. The department monitors available resources against workload on an ongoing basis with a view to ensuring optimum processing times for claims. Action taken may include flexibility in the application of staff resources in accordance with seasonal or temporary fluctuations in workload and the use of overtime where appropriate. The position continues to be kept under close review.

In the meantime, if a person's means are insufficient to meet his/her needs while awaiting a decision on a claim he/she may apply for a means-tested supplementary welfare allowance payment from their local community welfare officer.

Photo of Seán KyneSeán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 298: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway. [21404/11]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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An application for carer's allowance from the person concerned was received on 9 February 2011. The person in question has recently been requested to forward further details necessary to complete a means test to establish her entitlement to carer's allowance. On receipt of that further information and completion of the necessary investigations a decision will be made and she will be notified directly of the outcome.

Photo of Robert TroyRobert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 299: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a claim for farm assist will be expedited and approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21412/11]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an appeals officer, having fully considered all the evidence, disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

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