Skip to main content
Normal View

Disability Allowance Applications Waiting Times

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 March 2019

Wednesday, 6 March 2019

Questions (288)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

288. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the length of time it is taking to process disability allowance applications; and the number of applications waiting to be processed. [10995/19]

View answer

Written answers

My Department is committed to making decisions on entitlement as quickly as possible.  

In general, social welfare schemes with a number of complex qualifying conditions can take longer to process.  Before a decision can be made on entitlement to disability allowance (DA), evidence must be provided in respect of the person’s medical condition, the extent to which it restricts them from taking up employment, their means and their habitual residency. 

In January 2019, the average waiting time for new DA applications was 14 weeks and the number of applications waiting to be processed was 5,374. Work is on-going to improve these times and reduce the claims on hand.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Top
Share