Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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333. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will intervene in the prolonged processing time of a disability allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22291/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I confirm that an application for disability allowance has been received from the person concerned. The application was referred to a social welfare investigator for a means investigation. I understand the investigator will be in contact with the person shortly to clarify some aspects of his means.

A decision on the person’s entitlement to disability allowance will be made on receipt of the social welfare investigator’s report and the person will be notified directly of the outcome.

Entitlement to disability allowance is based on satisfying medical, means and residency conditions. In determining entitlement to the allowance there are, in certain cases, unavoidable time lags involved in making the necessary investigations and enquiries to enable accurate decisions to be made. Certain claims have to be sent to social welfare investigators for means investigations and this can add to the overall processing times. These claims are often complex and can take time to investigate.