John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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510. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reasons for the persistent delays in processing applications for the domiciliary care allowance; to provide the current average waiting time for new applications; to detail the measures being taken to reduce backlogs and improve processing efficiency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35293/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all of its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.

Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) new claim processing activity is prioritised on an ongoing basis with particular focus on processing times, to ensure a timely service to applicants.

The average processing time for DCA new applications is currently 6 weeks from date of receipt.

Applicants are advised to provide as much detail and relevant information as possible at application stage, including any available additional documentary evidence that is relevant in their child's case, to ensure that all information / documentary evidence is available for consideration in the decision and assessment process, so that an appropriate decision on entitlement may be made at the earliest possible date.

An online DCA application service has recently been introduced on MyWelfare and this will assist with the management of application processing times, in accordance with all available resources. However, it must also be acknowledged that the objective to process applications quickly must be balanced with factors such as the complex nature of Deciding Officer’s decisions, including the competing demand to ensure that application decisions are consistent, well reasoned and of high quality and made in accordance with the legislative provisions and the general principles of fair procedures.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.