Sinn Féin Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty has said waiting times for processing social welfare claims is unacceptably high.
Deputy Doherty today revealed details of waiting times for social welfare applications and appeals.
He said “What is clear from the details provided to me by the Department is that waiting times are unacceptably high.
“Since this government took office some of the waiting times have actually got worse. Since June 2011 the waiting time for carers allowance has doubled from 17 weeks to 34 while for the disability allowance it has has increased from 17 to 23 weeks.
“The average waiting time for an appeal is 28 weeks.
“These are people who are entitled to these payments. They are dependent on the safety net of the state and they are being failed.
“If this was TDs or Senators who were being made to wait such a long time for payments you can be sure it would be sorted out very quickly,” he said.
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