John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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226. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who are awaiting the processing of social protection payments (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33571/16]

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 figures you request for each scheme, as at 30 September 2016, are shown in the table below.

Reducing waiting times is a priority for the Department and we are working hard to make this happen. 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 the Department in recent years. 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. Where additional staffing is deployed to a scheme, such as has happened for carer’s allowance, there is a time-lag involved while those staff are trained and build up expertise. The Department has seen a significant reduction in CA processing from 22 weeks at the end of May to 14 weeks at the end of September and expects the processing times for schemes to reduce further over the next few months, as recently assigned staff get up to speed with the work involved in claim processing.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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227. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the procedures in place to deal with chronic waiting times for the processing of social protection payments especially the current 40 week wait for the processing of carer's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33572/16]

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 average waiting time for new carer's allowance (CA) applications at the end of September was 14 weeks. This is a significant reduction in CA processing from 22 weeks at the end of May to 14 weeks at the end of September and we are working hard to ensure that the processing times reduce further, as recently assigned staff get up to speed with the work involved in claim processing.

At the end of September, there were 4,146 CA applications awaiting decision. The volume of CA claims on hand is a consequence of continued increased claim intake and the delays in processing are frequently 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.

Reducing these waiting times is a priority for my Department and we are working hard to make this happen. 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 the Department in recent years. My Department will continue to do all it can by improving procedures and the organisation of work to ensure that the processing times are reduced.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.