Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 152: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if child benefit will be increased sufficiently to take account of child care costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37517/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department administers a number of child income support measures, including child benefit which delivers a standard rate of payment in respect of all children in a family regardless of income levels or employment status.

Child benefit supports all children but delivers proportionately more assistance to those on low incomes and with larger families. It is not intended primarily to meet child care costs. However, the very substantial increases in benefit in recent years can make a significant contribution to meeting those costs.

Since April 2005 monthly rates of child benefit have increased to €141.60 in respect of each of the first two children and €177.30 in respect of the third and subsequent children. Monthly rates of child benefit have increased by €103.51 at the lower rate and €127.78 at the higher rate since 1997, increases of 272% and 258% respectively. This level of increase is unprecedented and is in line with the Government's objective of improving income for children generally. The question of further increases in child benefit will be considered in a budgetary context.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 154: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if consideration will be given to increasing the family income supplement in line with increases in cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37519/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Weekly payments of family income supplement, FIS, are made to families, including one parent families, with children under 18 or between 18 and 22 if in full-time education, where one or more 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.

In the period between September 2002 and September 2005, the consumer price index increased by 8.6%. The average FIS payment increased during this time by 47.2%. The number of FIS claims in payment is 16,650. This represents an increase of approximately 40% in the past three years.

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. This represents 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.

The question of a further increase in FIS is a matter for consideration in a budgetary context having regard to available resources and Government commitments.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 155: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if free schemes will be awarded to younger widows and widowers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37520/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The household benefits package, which comprises the electricity and gas allowance, telephone allowance and television licence schemes, is generally available to people living permanently in the State, aged 66 years or over, who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or who satisfy a means test.

The package is also available to carers and people with disabilities under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments. People aged over 70 years of age can qualify regardless of their income or household composition. Widows and widowers aged from 60 to 65 whose late spouses had been in receipt of the household benefits package retain that entitlement to ensure that households do not suffer a loss of entitlements following the death of a spouse.

A range of proposals, including those referred to by the Deputy, have been made to extend the coverage of the household benefits package of free schemes. These proposals are kept under review in the context of the objectives of the scheme and budgetary resources.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 156: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if unemployment assistance or disability allowance will be awarded in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37523/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment assistance from 6 October 2003 to 8 October 2005 when the claim was closed as she had commenced employment. She made a repeat claim at Carlow local office on 11 November 2005 and her case was referred to a social welfare inspector for examination. The address given in respect of the application differs from the one quoted by the Deputy. If the person concerned has changed address she should contact her local office. The appropriate office for the address quoted by the Deputy is Newbridge social welfare local office.