Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 100: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to plans to introduce a savings scheme for low-income households on a pilot basis for two years to address the fact that low-income families which have no savings are at a particularly high risk of falling into debt. [4617/08]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The proposal is to develop a pilot savings scheme for low-income households, similar to the SSIA scheme which is now terminated. While the proposal has a number of socially progressive features, I am not convinced that such a scheme is the appropriate way forward. Raising the income levels of those affected by more jobs, higher wages or better social welfare support may be more productive. That is what this Government's policies are achieving.