John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 270: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the action she has taken to reduce the processing time for applications for carer's allowance; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that applicants are being informed that April applications are now being dealt with; if extra staff are needed in this section; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37309/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The average time taken to award a claim for carer's allowance to end Sept 2011 was 14 weeks. A total of 15,514 applications were registered to end Oct 2011 and 11,684 were processed in the same period. Some 7,935 applications are awaiting a decision at present. Approximately 51,000 carer's allowance claims are in payment. I acknowledge that the time taken to process carer's allowance claims is not satisfactory but I am satisfied that the Department is taking appropriate steps to resolve the situation.

In particular, a major service delivery modernisation project is underway to improve the efficiency of administration of the carer's allowance scheme. This involves the development of information technology functions and associated business process re-organisation. It is anticipated that the new system will introduce significant processing efficiencies and a quicker and more responsive service to the customer. Accordingly, the project is being given high priority and involves a significant level of time and commitment from the relevant staff in the Department, which has had, however, a short-term negative impact on claim processing times. The first tranche of new carer's allowance claims began to be processed under the new system in August 2011. While the new systems and processes will facilitate a significant improvement in overall processing times, it should be noted that the intake of new carer's allowance applications continues to increase and that individual claims may continue to take some time to process. Entitlement to carer's allowance is based on satisfying medical, means and residency conditions. In determining entitlement to the allowance, in certain cases unavoidable time lags are involved in making the necessary investigations and inquiries to enable accurate decisions to be made. Delays can also arise if those applying for the allowance are not in a position to supply all the necessary information in support of their claim.

The staff and other resources available to the Department are regularly reviewed with regard to the workload. The Department monitors available resources against workload on an ongoing basis with a view to ensuring claims are processed as quickly as possible. The action taken may include providing for flexibility in the application of staff resources in accordance with seasonal or temporary fluctuations in workload and using overtime where appropriate. The position is being kept under continuous review. In the meantime, if a person's means are insufficient to meet his or her needs while awaiting a decision on a claim, he or she can apply for a means tested supplementary welfare allowance payment from his or her community welfare officer.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 271: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will review a back to school allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37321/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Department is currently reviewing the entitlement to back to school allowance in this case and will advise the person concerned of its decision in due course.