Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 133: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason the period for assessment of applications for rent allowance has become so protracted since the community welfare service has transferred to her Department; the reason rent allowance applications which could be processed within days when being dealt with by the local community welfare officer are now taking months to process since the system was centralised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3041/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The centralisation of rent supplement payments has been on-going over the past number of years within the Community Welfare Service in Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare. The service transferred to the Department of Social Protection in October 2011. Rent supplement claims which are processed in central units are dealt with through a P.O. Box No. Claims are normally paid within four weeks and any back logs pertinent to the rent units have been cleared in the recent past. Claims outstanding are mainly due to the fact that further documentation is awaited from the client. Any queries can be directed to the relevant Locall phone numbers for the units.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if any statistical address has been done on the rate of applications for rent allowance, the approval, refusal and appeal rates on rent allowance applications; the average length of time to process an application; the percentage of cases in which further information requests have issued since the system was centralised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3049/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The information requested by the Deputy is currently being compiled and will be issued to him shortly.

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when an application for domiciliary care will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3051/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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An application for domiciliary care allowance was received on 19th October 2011. This application was referred to one of the Department's Medical Assessors who found that the child was not medically eligible for the allowance. A letter issued on 5th January 2012 advising of the decision. In the case of an application which is refused on medical grounds the applicant may submit additional information and/or ask for the case to be reviewed. Alternatively, they may appeal the decision directly to the Social Welfare Appeals Office within twenty one days.