Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he has calculated the number of persons who would be eligible for the family income supplement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30856/05]

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 88: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will or has already initiated a public information campaign for the family income supplement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30873/05]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons who would be eligible for the family income supplement but are not availing of the scheme; the number of persons who avail of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30855/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 55, 88 and 96 together.

Weekly payments of FIS are made to families, including one-parent families, with children under 18 years or between 18 and 22 years if in full-time education, where at least one parent is in full-time remunerative employment of not less than 19 hours per week, or 38 hours per fortnight, where the employment is likely to last at least three months and where the income of the family is less than a prescribed weekly amount.

The number of FIS claims in payment at end September 2005 was 15,784. This represents an increase of 31% since December 2002 when 12,043 claims were in payment. FIS income limits were increased by €39 per week in budget 2005. This represents a net increase of €23.40 per week for most recipients. Weekly FIS income limits have risen by €84 since 2002, a net increase of €50.40. The guaranteed minimum weekly rate of payment for anyone who qualifies for FIS increased to €20 from January 2004.

It is not possible to estimate from administrative sources the number of families who would be eligible but do not apply for their entitlements under the family income supplement scheme. However, research undertaken by the Economic and Social Research Institute in 1997, which was based on the results of the Living in Ireland Survey 1994, suggested that fewer than one in three of potentially eligible claimants were actually in receipt of the payment. Since those with a higher entitlement are more likely to avail of the scheme, the take-up in expenditure terms was estimated to be somewhat higher at between 35% and 38% of potential expenditure. I understand that the ESRI is re-examining this issue given the availability of new data since that time.

My Department undertakes a number of pro-active measures to ensure that people are made aware of their possible entitlement to family income supplement. In the past, this has included extensive advertising on local and national press and radio, in poster campaigns and targeted mailshots.

Information on FIS is also provided on an ongoing basis in various ways, which include advising all newly awarded one parent family payment recipients, advising all employers annually in PRSI mailshots and examining entitlement for all recipients of the back to work scheme. More generally, information on all social welfare schemes, including FIS, is also available on the department's website and from the Department's local offices.

Improvements to the family income supplement scheme, including the progressive increases in the income limits, have made it easier for lower income households to qualify under the scheme. My Department will continue to closely monitor the performance of the scheme in terms of uptake and ensure information on all of its schemes is disseminated to the widest possible audience so that people may avail of their entitlements.