Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Willie O'Dea covered most of the areas. Can the delegates comment further on the issue of family income supplement? There is a recommendation in respect of it from the advisory group on taxation. It is estimated that 40% of those entitled to the payment take it up. If a decision is made to retain it, how will the take-up rate be improved? Do the delegates have ideas in this regard?

Deputy Willie O'Dea touched on the earnings disregard in respect of one parent families and its devastating effects in terms of eligibility. People are coming into my office and presumably that of Deputy Willie O'Dea having visited the community welfare officer. They tell us that they have been told that they need to go to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. That is the reality about which I hear in my constituency clinic.

The presentations referred to SUSI. There were major problems last year in its administration. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul in its presentation referred to the number of students and the financial issues facing them. Have they carried over? Do the delegates from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul expect them to carry over? Does the society receive the same number of requests for help from the student population? Will the USI comment on its experience last year compared to this year in how SUSI is working out?

I refer to the USI and the youth guarantee. I know it has done much work with ICTU and has issued a report with some recommendations. Will the USI refer briefly to those recommendations?