Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1309. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if additional staff have been hired or allocated to the invalidity pension section due to a change in provisions (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36657/18]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. 

IP was extended to self-employed contributors from 1 December 2017. Since the introduction of this budgetary measure to end of August 2018 there has been an increase of 9% in the number of applications received compared to the period from 1 December 2016 to end of August 2017. 

Over this period, there has been no significant increase in the length time taken to process IP claims which would warrant the assignment of additional staff to the IP area.

The Department will continue to keep this situation under review to ensure that claims and reviews are processed as expeditiously as possible.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.