Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 130: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason payment of basic supplementary welfare allowance was stopped in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; if this case will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27754/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Since April 2000 the needs of asylum seekers are catered for under the direct provision system operated by the Reception and Integration Agency of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Under the system asylum seekers are provided with full board accommodation and other facilities such as laundry services and access to leisure areas. To take account of the services provided, a direct provision allowance of €19.10 per adult per week and €9.60 per child per week is payable in respect of any personal requisites required.

Following the introduction of the statutory habitual residency condition in May 2004, asylum seekers are generally not entitled to receive social welfare support. Since then, the payment of this weekly direct provision allowance is being made on an administrative basis by the Community Welfare Service of the Health Service Executive on behalf on the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. This is an interim measure pending finalisation of arrangements by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to integrate payment of an allowance with its management of accommodation and related services for asylum seekers.

The person concerned failed to present himself to the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) at the end of August as he was required to do under the terms of the direct provision system and on this basis the weekly direct provision payment was stopped. If the person concerned complies with the terms of the direct provision system a review of his entitlements can be undertaken.

Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 131: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the six-month delay in processing family income supplement applications is preventing those on social welfare from taking up low-paid or part-time employment, where they would also be entitled to FIS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27788/11]

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 August is 18 weeks. The waiting time for renewal FIS claims is currently between 4-5 weeks. At the end of August, there were approximately 9,595 new FIS applications and approximately 2,737 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 renewal claims to preserve continuity of payment;

· The ongoing staffing requirement is being kept under review in light of the continued strong claim intake;

· Additional temporary staff have been recruited to help reduce the backlog over the next three months;

· Overtime working is being applied where feasible;

These measures are aimed at reducing the number of claims on hand and the average waiting time for a decision. In addition to these measures cases of urgent need are prioritised and customers who qualify for FIS are promptly paid any arrears due, back to the date of their original application, when their claim is awarded. The position is being closely monitored and kept under review by the Department.