THE HEALTH Service Executive is drafting in additional staff in the west and mid-west to help process the backlog in back-to school allowance.
The turnaround time for applications in the Galway, Mayo and Roscommon area has more than doubled in the past week from 11 days to between seven and 30 days, according to figures released by the executive yesterday.
More than half of families that applied for the means tested clothing and footwear scheme in Limerick, Clare north Tipperary, Galway, Mayo, and Roscommon have not received the payment.
The executive said it is aware of the backlog in the area and is drafting in staff to process it.
The turnaround time in some areas has improved in the past week, such as in Dublin from nine days to between three and five days.Some 25 per cent of families that applied for the means tested scheme have not yet received their payment as children prepare to return to school.
