Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 432: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of recipients of the family income supplement; the extent to which this number has fluctuated in the past five years; his proposals to improve, extend or increase payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32133/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy is as follows.

Improvements to the Family Income Supplement scheme, including the new increased income limits announced in Budget 2006, mean that it is now easier for families to qualify under the scheme.

To ensure that families are made aware of these improvements, my Department undertook a nationwide awareness campaign last March to promote and encourage a greatly increased take up of the Family Income Supplement scheme for working families on low incomes. This extensive week-long campaign included advertising on TV, on national and local radio and in the national and regional press. I am very pleased with the response so far to the campaign.