7,000 waiting three months for dole

DOLE backlogs are causing hardship for thousands of households, with the latest figures showing at least 7,000 newly unemployed people have been waiting more than three months for their welfare claims to be processed.

One area in the Taoiseach’s own constituency has a backlog of almost 400 claims but no office to deal with them. Instead, social welfare staff in the town of Edenderry, Co Offaly, have to carry out home visits, which has led to a 14-week waiting list for claims to be processed.

At least 10 dole offices around the country have waiting lists of more than three months – four of these are in Mayo and two in Galway.