Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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161. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the steps he will take to tackle the reported delays in maternity benefit payments. [23397/17]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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162. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his views on whether the reported delays in maternity benefit need to be tackled as an emergency in view of the fact that it is the only source of income for women whose employers do not pay for their maternity leave. [23398/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 162 together.

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 has already started, or is due to start soon, 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.

I accept that there is a delay in the processing of maternity benefit claims and my Department is working hard to bring the position up to date. To alleviate delays, additional staff have been assigned and staff are working overtime. Further additional staff have been assigned this week and will commence processing claims immediately. 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.