Written answers

Tuesday, 19 April 2005

Department of Social and Family Affairs

Social Welfare Benefits

9:00 pm

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 99: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons currently in receipt of family income supplement and the average payment made; his plans to promote greater awareness of FIS; if there is any co-ordination with the Revenue Commissioners with a view to identifying those who may qualify for FIS but who may not be claiming it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11850/05]

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Family income supplement is designed to provide cash support for employees on low earnings with families. This preserves the incentive to remain in employment in circumstances where the employee might otherwise only be marginally better off than if he or she were claiming other social welfare payments.

The number of persons currently in receipt of family income supplement is 15,040 with an average weekly payment of €93.54 Improvements to the family income supplement scheme, including the assessment of FIS on the basis of net rather than gross income and the progressive increases in the income limits, have made it easier for lower income households to qualify under the scheme.

My Department undertakes a number of proactive measures to ensure that people are aware of possible entitlement to FIS, which include advising all newly awarded one parent family payment recipients, advising all employers annually in PRSI mailshots and examining entitlement in all awarded back to work allowance cases. Information on FIS is contained in all child benefit books and can be accessed on the Department's website. In addition, the scheme has been extensively advertised through local and national media outlets, including newspapers and radio, as well as through poster campaigns and targeted mailshots.

A working group, chaired by the Department of Finance, was established to examine the role which refundable tax credits could play in the tax and welfare system, including the possible payment of FIS through the tax system. While the group's final report is awaited, I understand that the principal recommendation regarding FIS is likely to be to continue payment through the social welfare system while maximising efforts to increase take-up.

Every effort will continue to be made to publicise family income supplement and to increase people's awareness of their social welfare entitlements generally.

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