Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Social Protection the current number of applications for family income supplement renewal and initial approval respectively; the corresponding waiting time in each category; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47900/12]

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

The Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers.

The average waiting time for new family income supplement (FIS) claims at the end of September was 18 weeks and for renewal applications was 19 weeks. At the end of September, there were 7,393 new FIS applications and 8,173 renewal applications awaiting decision. The volume of FIS claims on hands and the delays in processing are a consequence of continued strong claim intake.

An in-depth business process improvement (BPI) project has recently been completed for the FIS scheme. This project focused on optimising output and customer service and the reduction of backlogs. Part of the project was a detailed examination of workloads and a full assessment of existing capacity within the area and what capacity is needed in order to process the volumes of claims, both new and renewal, being received.

A plan has now been devised and implementation will commence from 5 November 2012. This will allow the normal weekly new claim and renewal intake to be processed without delay and the backlog to be ring-fenced and eliminated over the coming months.