Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 383: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the average and longest length of waiting times for domiciliary care allowance appeals, from the time of oral hearing to the notification of decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32408/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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On the basis of figures for the first half of 2012, the overall average times taken to process domiciliary care allowance appeals decided by summary decision was 29 weeks and 42 weeks for those requiring an oral hearing. These processing times are calculated from the registration date of the appeal to the date of its finalisation including, in cases requiring an oral hearing, the time between the date of the hearing and the time taken to issue the decision. This period usually comprises a period for reflection by the Appeals Officer on all of the evidence presented, both documentary and adduced at the oral hearing. Statistics on the average and longest length of waiting times for domiciliary care allowance appeals in regard to this period is not maintained. However, unless there are issues to be addressed and clarified which further delay the process, decisions, in general, are usually issued within about 4 weeks of the hearing.