Denis Naughten
Question:178. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the target processing time for schemes under her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34170/21]
View answerThursday, 1 July 2021
Questions (178)
Written answers
My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers, ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible. Processing times vary across schemes, depending on the different qualification criteria. Schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of illness-related schemes, can take longer to process. Similarly, means-tested payments can also require more detailed investigation and interaction with the applicant, thereby lengthening the decision- making process. Delays can occur if a claim is submitted and all the necessary supporting documentation is not included. If information is required from social security organisations in other jurisdictions, this can also affect processing times.I am pleased to report that notwithstanding the various issues that can arise; claim processing times on all schemes are currently in line with the set targets.I wish to reassure the Deputy that claim processing targets are regularly reviewed to ensure that they align with customer expectation. Claim processing is kept under active review, with all possible steps taken to improve processing times. This includes the assignment of additional resources, where available, and the review of business processes, to ensure the efficient processing of applications.