Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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440. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff employed by his Department to process applications for schemes (details supplied). [10273/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The systems and procedures for processing applications for the schemes listed vary depending on the individual characteristics of the particular scheme. Additionally, the volume of claims and associated maintenance work varies considerably across schemes. A number of strands of information input into the process which culminate in a Deciding Officer being in a position to assess the claim and make the final decision on the application. With the exception of details of staff working on jobseekers allowance applications, the number of these Deciding Officers is detailed in the attached tabular statement.

Jobseeker schemes are administered by the Department’s divisional structure across its sixty Intreo Centres nationwide. However, the staff in this divisional structure provide a wide range of services to customers in addition to processing applications for jobseeker schemes. Therefore, it is not possible to give a definitive breakdown of the number of staff involved solely in the processing of applications for jobseekers schemes. In all, there are currently 3,456 approved posts for the divisional structure which allows the Department to provide this wide range of services locally around the country.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.