There is an unacceptable delay for people applying for carer's allowance and many families are making decisions in regard to care of a loved one who is elderly or who needs care within the family. They are applying for carer's allowance and they may be reducing their work or perhaps taking leave from work. They are now waiting 12, 14 and even 16 weeks for a decision on carer's allowance, which is unacceptable. In a short period, I have seen many families affected by this issue. We have to keep hounding the Government until we get a commitment from the Minister to ensure there is a reduction in the waiting time and that adequate resources are given to carer's allowance to make sure these applications are processed in a orderly and fast way. It is a very serious issue and I am going to continue to raise it until I get some traction from Government.

I am happy to try to get the Deputy a detailed answer. Carers do extraordinarily good work and, without them, the State would be under pressure that we would not be able to bear, frankly. I will talk to the Minister and I will try to come back with a more accurate answer than I can give today.