In the week ending 25 October 2002 there was a total of 8,339 unemployment assistance claims awaiting a decision. The numbers were broken down as follows: pending for less than one week, 1,947; pending between one and four weeks, 3,752; pending between four and eight weeks, 1,702; and pending more than eight weeks, 938.
All customers applying for an unemployment payment, including unemployment assistance, are required to establish their identity and proof of residence. Delays may occur while customers obtain the necessary documentation to satisfy these requirements. When a customer makes a claim for unemployment assistance he or she must also satisfy a number of conditions. He or she must be available for work and genuinely seeking work. Providing the required evidence in order to establish compliance with these conditions may lead to a delay in making a decision.
In determining eligibility for unemployment assistance customers must also satisfy a means test. This may involve a home visit from an inspector of my Department. Depending on the complexity of the case, it may take some time to complete the means assessment, particularly if the customer is required to produce financial statements from banks and similar institutions or documentation in respect of other members of the household. From time to time some customers are not available for interview when the inspector calls. This, inevitably, leads to further delay while a new appointment is made to see the customer.
I assure the Deputy I am conscious of the need to provide as efficient a service as possible to people claiming unemployment assistance and other services from my Department. It takes on average four weeks to process an unemployment assistance claim and my Department is taking steps to minimise the level of avoidable delay in these cases. Performance targets have been set for all the Department's main schemes and these are monitored and reported on regularly. I am confident an improved level of claim turnaround can be achieved and my Department is working to achieve this.