Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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121. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of domiciliary care allowance in each county in tabular form. [16348/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of persons in receipt of domiciliary care allowance in each county is detailed in the table below.

Recipients of domiciliary care allowance by county at the end of June 2020

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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122. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons that were awarded the domiciliary care allowance in each county in each of the years 2016 to 2019 and to date in 2020; the number that applied for same; the number deemed ineligible for same; the number that appealed a decision made for same; and the number that had an appeal decision subsequently overturned for same in tabular form. [16349/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The information requested (where available) by the Deputy is detailed in the attached tabular statements. The Department is unable to segregate the information in relation to claims that are registered, awarded or rejected for any scheme under it's remit by county or other geographical area.

An Appeals Officer’s decision may be reviewed and revised by an Appeals Officer in accordance with Section 317 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 where additional evidence/facts are received that were not before the Appeals Officer when they made their decision or by the Chief Appeals Officer under Section 318 of the Act where grounds are put forward that indicate the Appeals Officer erred in fact and/or law in their decision.

Number of domiciliary care allowance claims registered, awarded and rejected 2016 to 2019 and at the end of June 2020

The number of domiciliary care allowance claims received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office and the number of initial Appeals Officer's decisions revised 2016 to 2019 and at the end of June 2020

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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123. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the waiting times for the processing of domiciliary care allowance applications in each county. [16350/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The average processing time for new Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) applications at 30th June 2020 was under 7 weeks, with 95% of applications processed within 10 weeks. The processing target set for the scheme is to have 90% finalised within 10 weeks and this target is currently exceeded.

My Department does not routinely collate statistical information relating to DCA applications on a county basis. All applications are processed in order of date of receipt regardless of customer location and the processing time would therefore be similar for each county.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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124. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons awaiting a decision in respect of domiciliary care allowance in each county. [16351/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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All applications for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) are processed centrally and are dealt with in order of date of receipt. Statistical information on DCA applications is not routinely collated on a county basis; as a result the numbers awaiting a decision in each county is not available.

At the end of June 2020, there were a total of 725 DCA applications awaiting a decision.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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125. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons awaiting a decision in respect of an appeal for domiciliary care allowance in each county. [16352/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

The statistics required by the Deputy are set out in the attached table. They reflect all current domiciliary care allowance appeals, whether they are at present with the Social Welfare Appeals Office or with the Department.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Domiciliary Care Allowance appeals outstanding by county/jurisdiction

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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126. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average waiting time for persons awaiting a decision in respect of an appeal for domiciliary care allowance. [16353/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the average processing time in 2019 for domiciliary care allowance appeals dealt with by way of summary decision was 27.3 weeks and it was 30.3 weeks for those requiring an oral hearing. The figures for 2020 to the end of June were 24.1 weeks for appeals dealt with by way of summary decision and 31.8 weeks for those requiring an oral hearing.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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127. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons awaiting an oral hearing in respect of a domiciliary care allowance application. [16354/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that there are currently 624 domiciliary care allowance appeals at various stages of the appeals process. Under Article 13 of the Social Welfare (Appeals) Regulations, 1998 (S.I. 108/1998), if an Appeals Officer is of the opinion that the case is of such a nature that it can be properly determined without a hearing, the appeal may be determined summarily.

I am advised by the Chief Appeals Officer that, due to the current Covid-19 restrictions, in person oral appeal hearings have been suspended since 13 March 2020. The resumption of oral hearings will be kept under review in light of government advice on easing restrictions. However, appeals work continues and appeals are currently being determined on the basis of written submissions. In some cases it has also been possible for Appeals Officers to progress appeals by way of telephone calls and email on issues relating to an appeal (which might otherwise have been ascertained in the course of an oral hearing) and bring the matter to a conclusion.

The Chief Appeals Officer has also advised that the Office is exploring the use of video technology for appeal hearings. Among the issues being considered are what is the most appropriate technological solution and the types of appeal cases that would be potentially suitable for this approach. Any future use of video technology would need to ensure the maintenance of fair procedures, confidentiality and data protection.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.