Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

Would the Minister consider going part of the distance along this route? I have in mind particularly the family income supplement. Family income supplement has a very low take-up, not because there are not many people in the income categories that are eligible but because they must apply for it. Would the Minister consider making administrative arrangements to pay family income supplement through the tax code? He rightly states social welfare is the way in which many of these needs should be addressed. Is the Minister aware that if a person is unemployed and in receipt of rent supplement, 95% of the rent is paid but if that person gets a job at the minimum wage or higher, the supplement towards the rent, either from tax or supplementary welfare, drops to zero? This unwittingly creates an unemployment trap in our system. Between the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, some solution must be found. If Deputy Boyle's solution is not the correct one, perhaps the Minister will find a different one.

See this speech in context