John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 124: 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 act 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. [2848/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The average time taken to award a claim for carer's allowance to the end of September 2011 was 14 weeks. The average time to award for the last quarter of 2011 is unavailable. Due to the phased introduction of a new claims processing system in the carer's allowance area, new claims are being processed on the new system while older claims are still being processed on the old system. A major service delivery modernisation project is under way to improve the efficiency of administration of the carer's allowance scheme. This involves the development of information technology functions and associated business process reorganisation. The first tranche of new carer's allowance claims began to be processed under the new system in August 2011. 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. This has had a short-term negative impact on claim processing times which is expected to continue until the completion of the modernisation project when all existing carer's allowance claims will be transferred onto the new processing system.

Some 7,660 applications are awaiting a decision at present, which represents a reduction on the figure of 8,540 at the beginning of September 2011. I acknowledge that the time taken to process carer's allowance claims at present is not satisfactory. I am satisfied that the Department is taking appropriate steps to resolve the situation. In addition to dealing with the approximately 330 new carer's allowance applications that are received each week, overtime working is being applied to help reduce backlogs that have built up chiefly as a result of the effort associated with the service delivery modernisation project. However, it is expected to be a significant number of months before the backlog is reduced to an acceptable level. 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. 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 their local community welfare officer.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 125: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if medical and or surgery benefit will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if she will expedite a response. [2849/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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This application was initially disallowed as the person concerned had insufficient contributions or credits recorded for the relevant tax year. However, following a review, credits in respect of carer's benefit for the 2009 tax year have been updated and the claim has been approved. A letter to this effect has now issued to the person concerned.