Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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56. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding arrears of payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43197/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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There has been an increase in the number of DA applications being received and decided over the past 18 months. This has led to an increase in the time being taken to process and issue arrears to successful applicants who were in receipt of another weekly social welfare payment during the period covered by the arrears. The Department keeps waiting times for its various payments under constant review and, as far as possible, endeavours to minimise delays for customers.

There are approximately 1500 disability allowance (DA) arrears currently awaiting action by a deciding officer. This number should be taken in the context of the current average number of DA applications processed per week, which is approximately 630.

Where an application for DA is being awarded and where no other social welfare payment was being received by the person in question since the date of the DA application, arrears issue immediately. However, in the majority of cases, the DA customer has been receiving another weekly social welfare payment while they were awaiting a decision on their DA application. In those cases, the amount paid to the person in question in the relevant period must be confirmed with the relevant Intreo office/scheme area so that the correct adjustment may be made to the arrears due. In some cases, once adjustment is made for the overlapping payment, arrears may be quite small or there may not be any arrears due at all. However, in such cases, it takes a number of weeks for the arrears to be finalised and issued.