Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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24. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection how the proposed increase in the national minimum wage from €8.65 per hour to €9.15 per hour will affect family income supplement; if the income thresholds for the supplement will be raised as a result of this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35479/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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To qualify for payment of FIS a person must be engaged in full time paid employment as an employee 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. The applicant must also have at least one qualified child who normally resides with them or is part of a family supported by them.

It is estimated that only a minority of FIS recipients is paid the minimum wage. The proposed increase in the national minimum wage from €8.65 per hour to €9.15 per hour would therefore benefit this grouping.

FIS is calculated on the basis of 60% of the difference between the income limit for the family size and the weekly family income of the person(s) raising the children. Weekly family income for FIS purposes is net assessable earnings from employment, income from self-employment or any other source.

Consideration of an increase in the FIS income thresholds is a budgetary matter. Budget 2016 will be announced today.