Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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188. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the waiting times for processing carer's allowance and carer's benefit applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43114/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The 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. Performance indicators relating to service delivery are set out in detail in the Department’s Customer Action Plan, including processing time targets for the main welfare schemes. The processing times target for the carer’s allowance scheme is 70% in 12 weeks. This target reflects the fact that 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.

There has been an annual increase of 14% in the numbers of applications for carer’s allowance in recent years.

At the end of September 2017, the carer’s allowance average processing time was 15 weeks and there were 4,844 applications awaiting decision. The carer’s benefit average processing time was 10 weeks and there were 677 awaiting decision.

Frequently, delays in processing are outside the control of the Department and are 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.

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

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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189. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the waiting times for processing jobseekers' applications in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43115/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the attached tabular statement.

Average time to award claims in the Department’s offices in Cavan and Monaghan at the end of September 2017