Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 248: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for back to school clothing and footwear allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and when a decision will issue. [25800/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) scheme operates from the beginning of June until the end of September each year.

The administrative arrangements for the 2011 BSCFA scheme differ from those that applied in previous years. For this year, the majority of BSCFA entitlements were fully automated with no application form required from customers. 127,000 households in respect of over 250,000 children received their payment automatically in June.

Those customers who did not receive an automated payment are required to complete and return an application form to the Department. The timescale for determining applications for Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance claims is dependent on a number of factors including: the number of applications received, when the application is lodged, the availability of the required information such as details of the applicant's income, bank statements and other relevant information regarding an individual's application.

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. Staff are working as quickly as possible on clearing the large volume of manual application claims received. Based on the current volume of applications it could take up to 7 weeks from date of receipt to process claims. Departmental records show that an application form was received from the person concerned on 8th August 2011 and she will be notified of the outcome of her claim when an assessment of her entitlements are made.

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 249: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on an application for carer's allowance will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly. [25804/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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An application was received from the person concerned on 15 April 2011. All the necessary investigations relating to her claim have been made and a decision will be completed shortly. The person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 250: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on back to school clothing and footwear allowance will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly. [25807/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Departmental records show that a Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance payment issued to the nominated account of the person concerned on the 17th September 2011.