Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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Question 332: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason an 85 year old person (details supplied) in County Limerick, who lives alone in a house which has no heating or running water and who has had a pacemaker fitted in the last few weeks was advised that they would have to wait 30 weeks for a decision on carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4914/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I confirm than an application for carer's allowance has been received from the person concerned. On completion of the necessary investigations relating to all aspects of her claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

The average time taken to award a claim for carer's allowance for quarter ended Sept 2011 was 17 weeks, and not the 30 weeks quoted in the question. The average time to award for the last quarter of 2011 is unavailable as, 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.

As mentioned above, 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. 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.

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.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 333: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4921/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was registered in that Office on 1 April 2011 and, in accordance with the statutory procedures the relevant department papers and the comments of the Deciding Officer on the matters raised in the appeal were sought and received on 13th April. The case was referred to an Appeals Officer on 17th May who decided that the case is to be dealt with by way of an oral hearing.

There has been a very significant increase in the number of appeals received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office since 2007 when the intake was 14,070 to 2010 and 2011 when the intake rose to 32,432 and 31,241 respectively. This has significantly impacted on the processing time for appeals which require oral hearings and, in order to be fair to all appellants, they are dealt with in strict chronological order.

While every effort is being made to deal with the large numbers awaiting oral hearing as quickly as possible, it is not possible to give a date when the person's oral hearing will be heard, but he will be informed when arrangements have been made.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.