Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

133. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to respond to correspondence (details supplied) regarding delays under the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12397/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Department is committed to ensuring that claims and reviews are processed as expeditiously as possible. Processing times vary across schemes, depending on the differing qualification criteria. Schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of illness, disability and caring schemes, can take longer to process.

The details attached to your question raise the question of reviews of ongoing carer’s allowance payments when a child who is receiving domiciliary care allowance reaches the age of 16. All social welfare claims are routinely reviewed to ensure continued entitlement. These reviews are essential to ensure value for money and that payments are targeted only to those who are entitled to them. CA payments may be reviewed at any time to confirm that the means test is still satisfied and that full-time care and attention is still required and is being provided. It is important to note that payment of CA continues while a review is underway which ensures that any delays in the department do not unduly inconvenience the customer.

Reviews of CA are not directly linked to when a care recipient reaches the age of 16 but, in certain cases, the Department considers this to be an opportune time as some child care recipients becomes more independent as they grow older. If it is found that a person no longer satisfies the conditions for continued entitlement to CA, they are notified of the decision in writing along with the reasons for it and they are offered the right of review and appeal.

Applicants for carer’s allowance, which is a means-tested scheme, are experiencing some delays currently. This primarily is due to an ongoing increase in new claim intake over the past few years to this scheme and the complexity attached to processing of these applications. In addition, there is sometimes a reluctance on the part of applicants to give full information at application stage thereby slowing down the processing of their application and in some cases necessitating a visit by an Departmental investigative officer.

Reducing these waiting times is a priority for my Department. As part of its programme of service delivery modernisation, a range of initiatives aimed at streamlining the processing of claims, supported by modern technology, have been implemented by my Department in recent years. Operational processes, procedures and the organisation of work are continually reviewed to ensure that processing capability is maximised.

In addition, staffing needs are regularly reviewed, having regard to workloads and the competing demands arising, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.