Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 122: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the delays in decisions being made with respect to carer's allowance applications; the current average waiting period for decisions according to her Department; the number of unsuccessful applications which were appealed in 2011 and to date in 2012; the success rate for said appeals for 2011 and to date in 2012; her plans to effectively deal with these delays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28058/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Department is committed to delivering the best possible service to its customers. The average time taken to award a carer's allowance is 28 weeks at present. A major service delivery modernisation project is underway to improve the efficiency of administration of the carer's allowance scheme. This involves the deployment of information technology solutions and associated business process re-organisation. It is anticipated that the new system will introduce significant processing efficiencies and a quicker and more responsive service to the customer. However, full deployment will be achieved by mid-June so it will be a number of months before the backlog is reduced to an acceptable level.

The information requested in respect of carer's allowance appeals is contained in the table below:

In 2011 the Social Welfare Appeals Office received a total of 2,199 carers allowance appeals, and 1,121 to the end of May 2012. Of the total number processed in 2011, 1,461 (45.7%) had a successful outcome for the appellant. Of these decisions, 618 (42.3%) were revised decisions made by statutorily appointed deciding officers of the Department who reviewed the claim, following the initial disallowance. These revised decisions arose as a result, in many cases, of new facts or fresh evidence produced by the claimant after the original decision on his /her claim. In such cases an appeals officer decision was not necessary. In 2012 (to 31 May 2012) of the total number processed, 386 (55.8%) had a successful outcome for the appellant. 82 (21.2%) were revised decisions made by statutorily appointed deciding officers of the Department who reviewed the claim following the initial disallowance.

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 at present is not satisfactory but I am satisfied that the department is taking action to resolve the situation.