Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for disability allowance on hand and pending decisions at present; the anticipated timescale to clear any backlog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29291/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 99: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for disability allowance received in each of the past three years and to date in 2011; the number approved, rejected or pending; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29293/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 99 together.

At the end of August 2011 there were 7,901 disability allowance claims pending decision. The statistics requested are shown in the tabular statement. The average number of weeks taken to decide a disability allowance claim for the period January to August 2011 was just over 16 weeks.

The Department is committed to delivering the best possible service to its customers. Operational processes and procedures and the organisation of work are continually reviewed in all areas of the department, including disability allowance section, to ensure that claims are processed and decided in the most efficient and expeditious way possible, having regard to the eligibility conditions that apply to each scheme. It should also be noted that many factors outside the Department's control can impact upon claim processing times e.g. the supply of relevant information by the customer, employers or other third parties.

Measures being taken to improve processing times for disability allowance applicants include an increase in the number of claims being desk assessed thus reducing the number of cases being referred for investigation by social welfare inspectors. Since August 2009 all claims are being desk assessed by the medical assessors thus obviating the need to call claimants for in-person medical examinations. Since November 2010, all medical reports for new disability allowance claims are being scanned which facilitates easier access by more medical assessors. Additional temporary staff has been deployed to assist with backlog clearance and will be in place until December 2011.

As part of the Department's programme of service delivery modernisation the disability allowance scheme will be moved onto a new IT administration platform. This work commenced in July of this year and it is expected that the first batch of new claims will be dealt with on the new system in the first quarter of 2012. It is anticipated that the new system will introduce significant processing efficiencies and a quicker and more responsive service to customers.

Statistics requested on disability allowance