Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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56. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the strategies he has implemented since coming to office to alleviate the exorbitant waiting times experienced by those applying under the carer's allowance scheme, the domiciliary care allowance scheme, and for many other social protection payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11765/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible. The number of new claim received on both carer's allowance (CA) and domiciliary care allowance (DCA), continue to increase . This is putting addition pressure on the timely processing of these claims. At the end of April, there were 6,361 CA applications awaiting decision and 1,876 DCA applicationsThe Department has introduced a number of measures to address the efficiency of claim processing in light of the current waiting times, including the assignment of temporary and full-time staff and the facility to assign overtime working where appropriate.

These measures will, lead to a reduction in the average waiting time.

The position is being closely monitored and kept under review by the Department.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.