Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

What changes have been made in advertising since the report was given to the Department? When was the report made available? I do not believe it has been published. Perhaps the Minister might let us have a copy of it. FIS was to have been the saviour for people on low incomes who had their child benefit payments reduced in the budget. How many people became eligible for FIS as a result of the changes in the child benefit payment?

For some time I have tried to get to the bottom of how many people should be eligible for FIS but have not made much progress. When the concept of FIS was first raised, surely the Department carried out a study to ascertain approximately how much it would cost us. Surely there was an estimate at that time of the numbers of people who might be eligible for FIS. With the possible exception of the farm waste management scheme, generally it would not be possible to set up a scheme without knowing how many people might be likely to apply. Some information must exist as to the total number of people who should be eligible for FIS. That information should be available from the Department or the Revenue Commissioners. If people are eligible, they should be made aware of it and get the supplement.

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