Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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11. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will have a decision on an application under the carer’s allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7950/16]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 25 January 2016. Unfortunately, the average time taken at present to decide a new application is running at 19 weeks. Additional resources have been provided to the CA section in order to improve the waiting times for new applications and they are working hard to make this happen.

Frequently, delays are outside the control of the Department and are caused by the customer failing to fully complete the claim form or failing to attach the supporting documentation that is requested on the application form.

This application will be processed as quickly as possible and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. In the meantime, both the person concerned and her spouse are in receipt of weekly social welfare payments.