Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 November 2017
214. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for a domiciliary care allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47277/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department is currently experiencing delays in the processing of Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) claims due to an increase in claim volumes and the need for more detailed decisions to be provided, following a High Court ruling. Corrective actions are in place, including having additional deciding officers assigned to the scheme. As a result average processing times have reduced over recent weeks and at present it is taking 17 weeks on average to finalise an application.
Applications are processed in date of receipt order, having regard to the complexity of each individual case. An application for DCA was received in the Department from this lady on the 23rd August 2017. While it is not feasible to provide an exact date for when a particular application will be finalised, the applications currently being finalised were received in July 2017. This application will be considered by a Deciding Officer and the decision notified as soon as possible.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
