Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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166. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the current average waiting times for a decision on an application for disability allowance to be made by her Department; the number of applicants currently waiting for a decision on applications submitted for disability allowance. [23507/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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There are approximately 6,800 applications for disability allowance awaiting decision of which some 5,800 are new applications. Of the 5,800 new claims awaiting decision 600 have been actioned and are awaiting further information before a decision can be made.

A recent analysis of the applications pending decision indicated that approximately 60% of them had been waiting for a decision for less than 12 weeks.

Following the completion of a major service delivery modernisation programme a plan is now in operation to reduce the backlog, including the assignment of additional staff and it is anticipated that the full backlog will be actioned by the end of the second quarter of this year.

It should be noted that the processing time for individual disability allowance claims can vary depending on the complexity of the claimant’s circumstances and the information they provide. In addition, a request for a review or an appeal by a person adds to length of time taken to deal with the claim.