Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the repetitive and duplicative means testing now being applied in respect of all means tests; the reason a single test cannot be adopted thereby dramatically reducing administrative costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36658/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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My Department operates a range of means tested schemes and these schemes, including the means testing elements, are administered through a network of local and central offices. In the case of means tested social assistance schemes, the vast majority of claimants are means tested only once. In a small number of cases, a second means test may be required if they apply for basic supplementary welfare allowance or rent/mortgage interest supplement.

Two important projects are currently underway which will enhance the delivery of means tested payments. The objective of the first project is to facilitate the capture and storage of means information and the calculation of customer means across social assistance schemes has been completed and is currently being rolled out.

One of the benefits of this project is that the Department will, where appropriate, be able to re-use means information already held which in turn will provide better customer service by reducing the need for different parts of the Department to request information from the applicant. Other benefits of this project include: achieving qualitative and quantitative improvements in productivity; achieving value for money in the use of resources; implementing secure control processes; providing better management information; allowing for the future introduction of mobile working to facilitate the electronic capture of data at time of investigation; and placing the Department in a position to anticipate and respond to changing business demands e.g. additional means factors, changes to scheme rules etc.

The second project involves the integration of the Community Welfare Service (CWS) into the Department. This will result in a more coordinated approach to the provision of service to the public. This will create opportunities to remove duplication of work, including in the area of means assessment.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 155: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the refusal rate in respect of disability allowance, invalidity pension and disability benefit, as a percentage of total applications in each of the past 24 months to date in 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36659/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The statistics requested are set out in the tabular statements. The statistics in relation to disability allowance and invalidity pension relate to the initial decision on a claim and do not reflect where a claim may be subsequently allowed either on review by a deciding officer following submission of new facts or evidence or as a result of an appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 156: To ask the Minister for Social Protection, further to Parliamentary Question No. 208 of 8 November 2011, the way the decision was reached that further documents must be supplied in order to process the application for rent allowance when the documents as listed in the aforementioned parliamentary question were in fact submitted to the Department already (details supplied); if she will further indicate when payment under the rent allowance scheme will issue in this instance as the applicant faces immediate eviction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36662/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The person concerned made an application for rent supplement on the 8th of September but her rent was in excess of the maximum rent limit appropriate to her family composition. The person concerned has been requested to reduce her rent to the limit permitted. The person concerned has also failed to provide the Department with a housing needs assessment from her local County Council. A decision will be made on her application when the necessary information has been provided.