Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 342: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she has a directive or guideline in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5638/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Family Income Supplement (FIS) is designed to provide support for people with families who are on low earnings. This preserves the incentive for them to remain in employment in circumstances where they might only be marginally better off than if they were claiming other social welfare payments.

In terms of the amount of work required to qualify for FIS, the customer must be in paid employment, as an employee under a contract of service for which PRSI is payable, of at least 38 hours every fortnight or 19 hours per week. This condition must be satisfied on an ongoing basis. If the customer works less than 38 hours every fortnight, he/she cannot qualify for FIS.

Once the person concerned works the required number of hours as an employee and has means within the prescribed limit for their family circumstances they can qualify for FIS. The primary legislation governing FIS is contained in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (Part 6, Section 227 to Section 233, as amended). The regulations governing FIS are contained in S.I. No. 142, of the Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) Regulations 2007 (Part 6, Article 172 to 177, as amended).

This legislation can be viewed via the Department's website at www.welfare.ie