Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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351. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an application by a person (details supplied) for illness benefit will be processed; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44445/18]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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My Department recently moved to a new IT system and this has impacted on payments to some Illness Benefit (IB) customers. The Department acknowledges that this move has caused difficulties for some customers, leading to a large volume of calls to its helpline and delays in responding to customer queries. In order to address this, the Department is deploying additional staff to manage customer calls. 

There is currently no record of the receipt of a claim by the person concerned for IB.  An application form has been issued to the person and, on its return, the claim will be processed without delay.

An official from my Department will also contact the person to assist with the application.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.