Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

For instance, if someone has two or three children, it would be worth €60 or €90 to them per week, in addition to what they might be entitled to receive under the family income supplement scheme. The best way to help families and individuals who have lost their jobs, for the most part through no fault of their own, is to help them to get back into employment.

This year we will spend an increased figure on family income supplement. By the end of the year it will be at least €280 million. I propose, and I am in discussions with our partners, that in the budget we examine what room we have to assist people. This includes examining whether there is room for tax relief for people on middle and low incomes. We also must consider people who are unemployed and whom we are able to assist more in getting back to work.

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