Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

264. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons currently in receipt of State maternity benefit payments; the average waiting time for an initial decision to be made on an application; and the average waiting times experienced from the initial decision to payment commencing. [21421/17]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

265. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have been deemed successful in their application for State maternity benefit who are still currently awaiting an initial payment; the length of time these persons have been waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21422/17]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

266. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his views on media reports of a backlog in payment and application for State maternity benefit payment; the extent of the backlog; his plans to address this matter; and when the backlog will be cleared. [21423/17]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 264 to 266, inclusive, together.

There are approximately 18,500 claimants in receipt of maternity benefit payment at present.

Currently there are over 2,850 claims for maternity benefit waiting to be processed. Just over 1,300 of these have a leave commencement date of 8^thMay 2017 or earlier. Maternity benefit claims are processed in leave commencement date order. The average time to process a paper claim is 6 weeks. Processing claims by leave commencement date order ensures that those whose maternity leave is impending or has already started receive priority. Once a decision is made and the claim has been awarded, and where the leave has already commenced, payment issues on the following Monday and this payment will also include any arrears due to the customer at that point.

To alleviate delays, additional staff have been assigned and staff are working overtime. I want to assure customers that every effort is being made to ensure all claims are processed as quickly as possible.

The Department also facilitates online applications for maternity benefit and an automated decision is made where the customer submits all necessary information and where the detail provided can be validated. I would ask the Deputy to encourage women who are planning maternity leave to use this channel, if possible, as it provides the most effective method of applying for maternity benefit.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.