Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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626. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the current delays in processing applications for travel passes on medical grounds; the total number of applications on hand; the corresponding figures for companion passes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34953/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Department is committed to ensuring that claims are processed as expeditiously as possible. Cases are dealt with by the Medical Assessors on a clinical priority basis. The delay in processing applications for companion free travel passes on medical grounds is due to a number of factors such as the increase in volume of customer claims to the Disability and Illness related schemes and the time involved in assessing cases where there is lengthy medical evidence to be assessed. A recent campaign to reduce the number of claims and appeals awaiting assessment by the Medical Assessors has successfully reduced the backlog considerably. The present focus is on free travel and two Medical Assessors have been assigned to work fulltime on reducing the backlog of 1,714 free travel referrals awaiting medical assessment. It is expected that this figure will reduce considerably in the near future. Avenues are also being explored in conjunction with the scheme area to expedite decisions on these claims in the future.