Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 September 2025
603. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe to process jobseeker's allowance applications, per county, in tabular form; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51215/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra604. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe to process jobseeker's benefit applications, per county, in tabular form; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51216/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra605. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe to process disability allowance applications, per county, in tabular form; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51217/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra606. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe to process carer's allowance applications, per county, in tabular form; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51218/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra607. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe to process carer's benefit applications, per county, in tabular form; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51219/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra608. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe to process invalidity pension applications, per county, in tabular form; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51220/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra609. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe to process child benefit applications, per county, in tabular form; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51221/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra610. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe to process disability pension applications, per county, in tabular form; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51222/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra611. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe to process maternity benefit applications, per county, in tabular form; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51223/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra612. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe to process parent's benefit applications, per county, in tabular form; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51224/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra613. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe to process paternity benefit applications per county, in tabular form; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51235/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra614. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe to process domiciliary care allowance applications per county, in tabular form; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51236/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 603 to 614, inclusive, together.
The Department is committed to providing a quality service to its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.
Processing times vary across schemes, depending on the differing eligibility criteria. Schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of health-related schemes, can take longer to process. Similarly, means-tested schemes can also require more detailed investigations and interaction with the customer, thereby lengthening the decision-making process.
Operational processes, procedures and the organisation of work are continually reviewed to ensure that processing capability is maximised. In addition, the staffing needs of all areas are regularly reviewed, having regard to workloads and the competing demands arising, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources.
My Department does not collate statistics on processing times broken down by county. The average number of weeks to award a claim, the targets and performance in August 2025 and August 2024 for the schemes requested are provided in the tables below.
Table 1: Performance standard and average weeks to award for various schemes in August 2025
|
Scheme |
Target |
By |
Performance |
Average weeks to award |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
90% |
In 6 Weeks |
96% |
3 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
90% |
In 3 Weeks |
73% |
3 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
90% |
By due date |
95% |
6 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
90% |
By Commencement of leave |
94% |
6 |
|
Parent's Benefit |
90% |
By Commencement of leave |
98% |
1 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
80% |
In 10 Weeks |
88% |
7 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
90% |
In 10 weeks |
93% |
6 |
|
Disability Allowance |
75% |
In 10 Weeks |
90% |
6 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
90% |
In 10 Weeks |
94% |
6 |
|
Child Benefit |
90% |
In 4 Weeks |
75% |
1 |
Table 2: Performance standard and average weeks to award for various schemes in August 2024
|
Scheme |
Target |
By |
Performance |
Average weeks to award |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
90% |
In 6 Weeks |
96% |
2 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
90% |
In 3 Weeks |
90% |
2 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
90% |
By due date |
95% |
6 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
90% |
By Commencement of leave |
92% |
6 |
|
Parent's Benefit |
90% |
By Commencement of leave |
96% |
1 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
80% |
In 10 Weeks |
86% |
7 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
90% |
In 12 weeks |
96% |
5 |
|
Disability Allowance |
75% |
In 10 Weeks |
91% |
6 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
90% |
In 10 Weeks |
96% |
6 |
|
Child Benefit |
90% |
In 4 Weeks |
70% |
1 |
