Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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262. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications for carer's benefit and allowance awaiting medical assessment; if there is an adequate number of medical assessors to carry out the assessments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41515/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Medical Review and Assessment Section are carrying out the medical assessment of Carer's Allowance and Carer's Benefit in a timely manner.

As of 7th October 2019 the numbers awaiting medical opinions for Carer's Allowance claims stands at 256 and Carer's Benefit claims at 45. The oldest outstanding claim was made in the last week of September 2019 for both schemes.

The Department endeavours to maintain adequate medical Assessor capacity, and following the last recruitment process, successfully appointed a further five Medical Assessors on full time basis, which brings the current staffing level to maximum capacity of Medical Assessors.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.