Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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76. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the steps she will take to maximise the uptake of family income supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17290/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Family income supplement (FIS) is an employee incentive scheme for low-income working families, including one-parent families, aimed at supporting them through supplementing their income while they remain in work. There has been a steady growth both in the number of families supported by FIS over recent years and associated expenditure as set out in the table.

Expenditure in 2014 on the FIS scheme was €297.7 million (provisional), an increase of €36 million on 2013. Estimated expenditure on FIS in 2015 is approx. €349 million.

The Department avails of every opportunity in its engagement with employers and jobseekers to build awareness of the availability of FIS and how this payment may benefit potential employees with children. The increasing numbers of families in receipt of FIS is testament to the effectiveness of the Department's information strategy for the scheme and the significant improvements in customer service and processing times for FIS customers.

The Department's web site www.welfare.ie has full information on the FIS scheme and provides typical family scenarios to aid understanding and provide comparisons. This information is also available in all the Department local offices, citizens information centres and information offices.

In addition a series of road-shows were held around the country designed to inform employers about the wide range of employment support services provided by the Department, including FIS. Case officers in each locality use FIS as an incentive to move people from the live register to employment.

Furthermore, the Department's Benefit of Work ready reckoner gives an indication of the difference between a person's potential in-work payment, including FIS, and current out-of-work payments.

The Department has also launched a poster campaign in its Intreo centres and local offices in Mid-Leinster and North Dublin to further promote FIS. This campaign will be rolled out to all offices nationwide during 2015.

The Department has also recently been in touch with Trade Unions representing in excess of 260,000 employees (in both the Public and Private Sector) and provided them with an article on FIS for inclusion in their upcoming publications for members. This article explains in detail the qualification conditions for the scheme and gives relevant supporting examples of families that could qualify.

In conclusion, I am satisfied that the FIS scheme is being promoted and evidence shows that it is fulfilling its role in assisting employees to take up employment opportunities and to remain at work.