Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 December 2014
41. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for carer’s allowance, ophthalmic benefit or dental benefit, invalidity pension and disability allowance received in the past six months; the number approved, refused or pending; the way the figures compare with the previous 12 month period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47329/14]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the following tabular statements. Please note that separate pending figures for dental benefit and optical benefit as requested are not available. Pending figures for treatment benefits as a whole are available, encompassing dental benefit, optical benefit and hearing aids. The treatment benefits pending figure at the end of May 2014 was 3,567. The treatment benefits pending figure at the end of November 2014 is not yet available but will be forwarded to the Deputy at the earliest opportunity.
Applications received, awarded, disallowed, withdrawn & pending June to November 2014
|
Scheme |
Number Received |
Number Awarded |
Number Disallowed |
Number Withdrawn |
Number Pending(**) |
|
Carer’s Allowance |
9,264 |
6,887(*) |
4,197 |
853 |
4,606 |
|
Disability Allowance |
9,992 |
7,483(*) |
6,996 |
517 |
5,929 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
4,364 |
3,682(*) |
2,729 |
761 |
2,171 |
|
Dental Benefit |
164,849 |
150,970 |
11,367 |
n/a |
n/a |
|
Optical Benefit |
80,071 |
75,974 |
3,192 |
n/a |
n/a |
(*) Please note that the number shown as awarded in each month includes any case which was awarded in that month following a review of a prior decision to disallow.
(**) Pending figures as of end November 2014
Applications received, awarded, disallowed, withdrawn & pending June 2013 to May 2014
|
Scheme |
Number Received |
Number Awarded |
Number Disallowed |
Number Withdrawn |
Number Pending(**) |
|
Carer’s Allowance |
14,508 |
11,776(*) |
6,589 |
1,673 |
3,479 |
|
Disability Allowance |
19,998 |
13,662(*) |
13,559 |
1,482 |
5,631 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
9,420 |
7,950(*) |
6,583 |
507 |
2,329 |
|
Dental Benefit |
332,014 |
308,194 |
23,452 |
n/a |
n/a |
|
Optical Benefit |
152,408 |
145,051 |
7,278 |
n/a |
n/a |
(*) Please note that the number shown as awarded in each month includes any case which was awarded in that month following a review of a prior decision to disallow.
(**) Pending figures as of end May 2014
