James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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35. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to address the delays in processing reviews for social welfare payments, including carer's allowance, disability allowance and domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22786/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers.  This includes ensuring that reviews are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.

In general, reviews of entitlement to social welfare schemes with a number of complex qualifying conditions can take longer to process.  Requests for review of a decision can include additional information or evidence not originally submitted for consideration.  This may involve a review of documentation relating to habitual residence, means information or medical evidence before a decision can be made.

Where a customer requests a review of a decision, every effort is made to ensure that this request is processed as quickly as possible.  Where any scheme area experiences delays, all possible steps are taken to improve processing times.  This includes the assignment of additional resources, where available, and the review of business processes, to ensure the efficient processing of reviews of social welfare payments.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.