Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

354. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will undertake a review of the recent refusal of family income supplement in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18500/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The family income supplement (FIS) is designed to provide support for people with families who are on low earnings. To qualify, an applicant must have at least one qualified child. A qualified child for FIS purposes is a child aged less than 18 years of age or between the ages of 18 and 22 who is in full-time education. The child must reside with the applicant or if resident with the other parent, the applicant must be substantially maintaining the other parent and child.

The person concerned applied for FIS in respect of three children. However, as the children are not residing with him and are not being maintained by him the person concerned was deemed to have no qualified children for FIS purposes. Consequently his application for FIS was refused on these grounds. The person concerned has been notified directly of this decision and of his right to appeal against it to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.