Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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630. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to reduce the waiting time for persons that are waiting for applications for disability allowance to be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27538/19]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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My Department is committed to making decisions on entitlement as quickly as possible.

In general, social welfare schemes with a number of complex qualifying conditions can take longer to process. Before a decision can be made on entitlement to disability allowance (DA), evidence must be provided in respect of the person’s medical condition, the extent to which it restricts them from taking up employment, their means and their habitual residency.

In May 2019, the average waiting time for new DA applications was 14 weeks. The claim processing target for DA is to process 75% of claims within 12 weeks. Staff are being redeployed within the DA area to assist with claims processing.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.