Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 May 2017
54. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 161 and 162 of 17 May 2017, if he will report on the status of maternity benefit applications and the delays there are. [25949/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra76. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps he is taking to ease the backlog of claims for maternity benefit; the current waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25968/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra83. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in the payment of maternity benefit payments; the number of outstanding payments; the time these persons have been waiting for payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25972/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 54, 76 and 83 together.
Maternity benefit is a payment made to women who are on maternity leave from work and are covered by social insurance (PRSI).
It is a payment for employed and self-employed women who satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions.
Some 45,000 maternity benefit claims were processed last year and a similar number is expected in 2017. The rate of maternity benefit was increased to €235 in the 2017 Budget and allowances for dependent adults and children are available to those who qualify.
Maternity benefit section is currently experiencing some difficulty with processing all claims in advance of their maternity leave commencement date. Corrective actions have been taken and progress is being made. However, there are still a number of mothers that will receive their first payment up to 3 to 4 weeks after they commence their maternity leave. The number has reduced to 700 at 29 May, down from 1,100 based on a count at 22 May.
Staff are being recruited to bring the complement up to cadre. Staff have also been moved from other areas in Buncrana and Letterkenny, including the Intreo centres, to work on processing maternity claims on a temporary basis. Information section in Sligo is handling phone calls for the section, freeing up maternity benefit staff for claim processing work. Staff have also been working overtime, including Saturdays, to ensure as many claims as possible get processed and paid by their commencement date.
Once a claim is awarded, any arrears payments due issue immediately along with the first payment. Where a claim is made online, it is decided immediately providing that the conditions are met and the necessary documentation is attached. Efforts continue to be made to promote online applications and I would ask the Deputies to encourage expectant mothers to avail of this facility.
The focus remains on ensuring that all claims are processed as quickly as possible.
