Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 592: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the advertising his Department carried out in relation to family income supplement; and the amount of money spent on advertising the FIS scheme. [20213/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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In March 2006 my Department undertook a nationwide awareness campaign to promote and encourage the take up of the Family Income Supplement (FIS) scheme. An extensive week-long campaign included advertising on television, on national and local radio and in national and regional newspapers. A nationwide poster campaign was also undertaken. The cost of this campaign was approximately €300,000.

In addition to the advertising campaign, FIS information booklets and application forms were distributed on behalf of my Department to GPs surgeries and health centres throughout the country and were displayed there from March to August 2006 and January to June 2007. This cost in the region of €23,500.

The FIS scheme, as well as a number of my Department's other schemes and services, was advertised on 'Info TV' in almost 80 Credit Union branches nationwide at various stages throughout 2006 and 2007.

My Department aims to ensure that all citizens are made aware of their rights and entitlements. In this regard, Information Officers are available in Social Welfare Local Offices to assist customers enquiring about the scheme. Callers to my Department's Information Services enquiry line, 1890 66 22 44, are advised of the Family Income Supplement scheme, as appropriate. Information booklets promoting FIS are distributed to local Social Welfare Offices, Citizens Information Centres, Post Offices and voluntary organisations. In addition, information on FIS and all social welfare schemes and services is available on my Department's website, www.welfare.ie.