Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of rent supplement applications that remain unprocessed at this time; the average length of time it takes to process a rent supplement application; the same figures for each of the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3911/13]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for rent support, mortgage interest relief, supplementary welfare or other basic payments received in each of the past two years to date; the numbers approved under each heading; the numbers referred to appeal; the number of decisions overturned on appeal; the average length of time taken overall under each heading; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4032/13]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for rent support received on a county basis in each of the past four years to date; the numbers granted, refused or pending in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4535/13]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications received in her Department or through the Health Service Executive for mortgage interest support in each of the past three years to date; the number granted refused or pending; the average length of time taken to determine such cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4543/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 142, 174, 471 and 478 together.

The supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) is considered the "safety net" within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. The Government has provided approximately €718 million for the various SWA schemes in 2013. I attach a tabular statement outlining the number of claims awarded for basic supplementary welfare allowance, rent supplement and mortgage interest supplement for each of the last three years. A breakdown of the number of rent supplement claims in payment on a county basis for each of the past four years is provided. I also attach details of the number of payments made under the exceptional needs payments and urgent needs payments schemes for 2011 and 2012. Statistics are not available on the length of time taken to process SWA applications, the number of applications received or their outcome.

Statistics from the Social Welfare Appeals Office advise that 5,445 SWA appeals were received in 2012. The average processing time was 17.6 weeks for appeals dealt with by way of summary decision and 22.9 weeks for those requiring an oral hearing. Prior to October 2011, supplementary welfare allowance appeals were submitted directly to appeals officers of the Health Services Executive (HSE). A tabular statement detailing the outcome of SWA appeals decided by appeals officers for 2012 is attached. The statistics presented in relation to appeals are not analysed under the various sub schemes within SWA as individual appeals can relate to more than one scheme area.

Reviews of exceptional needs payments and urgent needs payments are not appealed to the Chief Appeals Officer but are referred for review by another officer if the applicant is not satisfied with the outcome of their application. Statistics are not maintained on the number or the outcome of such reviews.

The provision of a prompt service is a major objective for the Department’s staff administering the various elements of SWA. All decisions are decided as speedily as possible. This is tempered by the necessity to ensure that every case is fully examined and that all cases are dealt with in a consistent and fair manner. I am satisfied that the Department’s staff dealing with applications or appeals in relation to SWA payments make every effort to ensure all transactions are processed in an efficient, fair and transparent manner.

Tabular Statement

Table 1: Number of Rent Supplement, Mortgage Interest Supplement and Supplementary Welfare Allowance claims awarded by year.

Table 2: Number of payments made under Exceptional Needs Payment and Urgent Needs Payment schemes

Table 3: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Appeals decided by Appeals Officers

Number of Rent Supplement Recipients by County at Year End: