Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 May 2004
186 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason for the delay in processing applications for carers allowance; the reason her Department is now dealing with applications received in January; and her proposals to clear the backlog of applications. [13983/04]
View answerMy Department is committed to providing a quality customer service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are issued as expeditiously as possible having regard to the eligibility conditions.
Entitlement to carer's allowance is based on an applicant satisfying medical, means and residency conditions. In some cases there is an unavoidable time-lag involved in making the necessary investigations and inquiries to enable decisions to be made. For example, there is an onus on applicants to furnish all necessary documentation. Time can elapse through delays and applicants may not supply all of the necessary information required to support their claim.
All claims are dealt with when my Department receives them. Some decisions are made without delay. For example, 21% of new claims received since the beginning of April have already been decided.
On average 12 weeks elapse between initial receipt of claim and a decision to award carer's allowance. At the present the total number of claims is 1,555, the majority of which were received in the last eight weeks. A total of 288 or 19% of them were received in or prior to January.
About 50% of claimants are already in receipt of another social welfare payment or are a qualified adult whilst waiting for their carer's allowance entitlement to be determined. Such payments will normally continue until entitlement to their carer's allowance is determined.
The staff and other resources available to my Department are regularly reviewed having regard to the workload arising and other competing demands. The available resources are then used to best advantage in discharging my Department's obligations towards our customers and in implementing cost-effective control measure.
187 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason rent supplement was refused in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if the decision is the result of recent budget cuts; and when the person is likely, if ever, to qualify for rent supplements. [14032/04]
View answerThe South Western Area Health Board was contacted about the case. It has advised that the application for a rent supplement from the person concerned has not yet been determined. The board is awaiting the return of a completed application form. The board will consider whether to grant a rent supplement when it receives the form.
