The Department has set a target to process 90% of domiciliary care allowance (DCA) applications within 10 weeks. In June 2018, 89% of DCA applications were processed and decided within 10 weeks. Overall, the average time taken to process claims at present is 9 weeks.
I would like to assure the Deputy that while processing delays were experienced during the second half of 2017, the processing of DCA claims is currently up to date. Additional staff resources have been assigned to the scheme over the last 12 months to deal with the increasing number of applications being received over recent years.
I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.