Written answers

Tuesday, 21 October 2008

Department of Social and Family Affairs

Social Welfare Code

9:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 419: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will increase the means test threshold for qualification for means tested payments with a view to alleviating hardship in the present economic situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35025/08]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Social welfare has been prioritised in this Budget. Next year, total funding for the Department of Social and Family Affairs will be €19.6 billion. This represents an increase of €2.6 billion or 15.5% over the Estimates allocation for 2008.

Over 1.7 million people and their dependants will benefit from this expenditure — including 440,000 pensioners, 345,000 ill and disabled people, over 80,000 carers, 30,000 low income working families availing of the Family Income Supplement and over 580,000 families that receive child benefit payments.

Even in these difficult economic times, the Government has prioritised delivering real increases in social welfare payments. The Budget provides for increases of between 3 and 3.8% in the basic payment rates next year or ahead of projected inflation of 2.5% for next year. These increases are also in line with the wage rises agreed by the social partners in the 2nd phase of the National Pay Agreement.

In addition, the fuel allowance increases by an extra €2 per week with payment also being made for an additional 2 weeks. In relation to means testing arrangements, improvements are being made to the Family Income Supplement which is paid to low income working families. The income limits for the FIS are being increased by €10 per week in respect of each child giving an average extra payment of €6 per child per week.

Furthermore, the income thresholds for entitlement to Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance are also being increased to enable 18,000 more families to benefit from the scheme.

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