Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which the number applying for various payments administered by her Department increased in the past 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21849/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 195: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she has been able to shorten the time taken to assess eligibility for various social welfare payments paid by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21850/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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1I propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 195 together.

This information in relation to applications for the main schemes within my Department and average weeks to award an application is set out in the tabular statement below.

The number of applications for Jobseeker's Benefit and Jobseeker's Allowance fell in June 2011, compared to June 2010, and the average time taken to decide claims for these payments was less in June 2011 than it was in June 2010. Taken together, these claims accounted for about half of all the claims received in the Department in the period in question.

The number of applications for Jobseeker's Benefit and Jobseeker's Allowance fell in June 2011, compared to June 2010, and the average time taken to decide claims for these payments was less in June 2011 than it was in June 2010. Taken together, these claims accounted for about half of all the claims received in the Department in the period in question.

Numbers of Applications and Average Time to Award a claim in June 2011 compared with June 2010

* Due to a change in IT systems and reporting mechanisms data for State Pension Non-Contributory June 2011 is not readily available. This figure is based on an average year to date monthly total.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans regarding persons most recently self-employed but who otherwise have a full record of social welfare contributions but who may have to retire on ill-health grounds in view of the fact that such persons at present only qualify for a means tested payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21851/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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1A self-employed person, who previously had Class A contributions, may still have access to short-term social insurance schemes for a limited period of time, where they have the required number of paid Class A contributions in the relevant tax year. The relevant tax year is the second last complete contribution (tax) year prior to the date on which a claim for benefit is made. Thereafter a self-employed worker has access to social assistance-based payments, such as disability allowance, subject to a means test, if they are on low income as a result of a downturn in demand for their services or should their business cease.

Contributions previously paid at Class A together with PRSI paid as a self-employed contributor will both be reckonable to establish entitlement to the Contributory State Pension upon retirement.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the action, if any, she proposes to take to speed up the process for the determination of eligibility of rent and mortgage support applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21853/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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1The supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) provides for a supplement to be paid in respect of rent or mortgage interest to any person in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs. The scheme is currently administered by the community welfare service of the Health Service Executive on behalf of the Department.

Each application for mortgage interest supplement is determined by a community welfare officer taking account of the relevant legislative provisions and on the basis of the merits of each individual case. The timescale for determining applications for rent and mortgage interest supplements is dependent, among other things, on the availability of the required information, such as details of the applicant's income, bank statements, information from landlords, lending institutions etc. In addition, some aspects of the applications are inevitably time consuming and delays can occur where further investigations or third party evidence is required. Delays can also arise if the applicant is slow to respond to requests for additional information. Historically rent supplements have been administered locally by the Community Welfare Officer directly to the customer. However, as a result of a large increase in claims being made in recent years and the restriction on staff recruitment in the service, it was decided that priority had to be given to the demand on the local service for claims where an immediate decision was needed such as basic payments and exceptional needs payments. It was considered that rent and mortgage interest supplement claims could be delivered more efficiently through centralised units.

A number of Transition Managers have been appointed from within the Community Welfare Service and are currently examining the models being used to deliver rent and mortgage interest supplement claims to ensure that the most efficient process is used with a view to improving service delivery.

The provision of a prompt service is a major objective; however this has to be achieved in a manner that is consistent with the demands of natural justice and the need to ensure that every case is fully investigated. While certain cases may take more time to process than others, overall, the Department is satisfied that the CWS makes every effort to decide rent and mortgage interest supplement claims in an efficient, effective and timely manner.