Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delays now occurring in the local social welfare office at Dominic Street, Limerick, where persons seeking means-tested payments are waiting anything from three to six months for decisions and where persons seeking review have to wait up to 12 months; her views on whether this situation is acceptable; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the Limerick local office is badly understaffed; her plans to allocate further staff to alleviate the misery being endured by the most vulnerable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37809/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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In common with other local offices the length of time it takes to process claims in Limerick varies depending on the complexity of the claim, the availability of the necessary documentation from the applicant or his/her employer and the need to carry out additional enquiries including the assessment of means and whether the claimant satisfies the Habitual Residence Condition.

Furthermore, processing times can vary depending on other factors such as staff vacancies, the duration of such vacancies and the turnover of staff which would impact on the overall level of experience in the office.

While it is correct to say staffing levels in Limerick local office are tight at present (with the growth in the Live Register) there has been a number of internal initiatives to maximise the use of staff resources within the office.

The average processing times for October give an indication of the average time claimants are waiting to be paid after submitting claims. These average times are 2.44 weeks for Jobseeker's Benefit while the average times for the means tested payments Jobseeker's Allowance and One-Parent Family Payment are 6.36 and 11.75 weeks respectively.