The assessment of entitlement to and payment of domiciliary care allowance is a matter for the relevant health board. Information in relation to the average or typical time it takes to process applications for this allowance is not routinely col lected by my Department. In the circumstances, my Department has asked the chief executive officer, Eastern Regional Health Authority to investigate this issue and to reply directly to the Deputy as a matter of urgency. If the Deputy is aware of a particular case in the Northern Area Health Board where a person has had to wait an excessive time for his-her application to be processed, please forward the details to me and I will ask the chief executive officer, Eastern Regional Health Authority to investigate the case.