Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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375. To ask the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 629 of 16 April 2013, the maximum time an applicant is waiting to have the assessment process for disability allowance concluded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18752/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The earliest new application for disability allowance which is awaiting action by a deciding officer was received on the 23 July 2012. That application has, however, been medically assessed at this point. A recent analysis of the applications pending decision indicated that approximately 60% of them had been waiting for a decision for 12 weeks or fewer. The general practice is that claims are decided in date of receipt order. However in some instances priority is given to certain claims, for example, claims received from 16 year olds whose parents/guardians had been in receipt of domiciliary care allowance or in cases where claimants are very ill. The processing time for individual claims can vary depending on the complexity of the claimant’s circumstances and the information they provide in support. In many cases, further information is required in order to make a decision for example a medical assessment, information from the claimant or applicant themselves or a report from a social welfare inspector.