Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite a carer's allowance application which was received last September in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25698/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for carer's allowance from the person in question. On completion of the necessary investigations relating to all aspects of her case a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 125: To ask the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 580 of 18 April 2012 the reason one month later her Department still have not progressed past applications from July, 2011; the further reason she quotes an average time of 28 weeks to process applications when this clearly is not the case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25699/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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As already stated, the Department is committed to delivering the best possible service to its customers. The average time taken to award a carers allowance application is 28 weeks at present, however individual cases may vary. Some will be processed more quickly, others will take longer. In particular, where a customer requests a review of an initial decision to refuse an application, this will take additional time.

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 a view to ensuring claims are processed as quickly as possible. 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.