Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 253: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider amending the legislative conditions which must be satisfied to qualify for family income supplement so that those persons who are maintaining their family but whose children are not normally living with them would qualify for family income supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24645/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The family income supplement (FIS) is designed to provide income for employees on low earnings with families. This preserves the incentive to remain in employment in circumstances where the employee might only be marginally better off than if he or she were unemployed and claiming other social welfare payments.

To qualify for payment of FIS, a person must be engaged in full-time insurable employment which is expected to last for at least 3 months and be working for a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight or 19 hours per week. A couple may combine their hours of employment to meet the qualification criteria. Furthermore, the average family income must be below a specified amount which varies according to the number of qualified children in the family.

The applicant must also have at least one qualified child who normally resides with them or is supported by them. In the case of parents who are separated, a parent who is wholly or mainly maintaining a former spouse can qualify for FIS. However, only one FIS payment can be made in respect of any family.

Furthermore, a person included in one particular family for any period for FIS purposes shall not be regarded as a member of any other family during that period. I have no immediate plans to amend the legislation further in this regard.