Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1502. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current waiting times for carer's allowance applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35425/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My 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 Department has seen a significant reduction in carer’s allowance average processing times, from 20 weeks at the end of June 2016 to 13 weeks at the end of June 2017. This improvement has been achieved against the background of a 16 to 20% annual increase in applications over the last two years.

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. Operational processes, procedures and the organisation of work are continually reviewed to ensure that processing capability is maximised.

There are many questions which have to be considered before a decision can be made on entitlement to carer’s allowance, specifically in relation to habitual residence, the care requirements of the person being cared for, as well as the means of and the level of care being provided by, the carer in each case. Despite the best efforts of the Department to encourage customers to include all relevant information when making an application for carer’s allowance, 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.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.