Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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688. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application by a person (details supplied) for domiciliary care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42952/17]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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The Department is currently experiencing delays in the processing of Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) claims due to an increase in claim volumes and the need for more detailed decisions to be provided following a High Court ruling. Corrective actions have been taken, including assigning additional deciding officers to the scheme. As a result average processing times have reduced over recent weeks and at present it is taking on average 17 weeks to finalise an application. Applications are processed in date of receipt order, having regard to the complexity of each individual case. An application for DCA was received in respect of this child on 19 September 2017. While it is not possible to provide an exact date on when a particular application will be finalised, the applications currently being finalised were received in May

2017. This application will be considered by a Deciding Officer and the decision notified as soon as possible.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.