John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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35. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to introduce the working family payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18761/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government contains commitments to improve the take-home pay of families on low-incomes. One of the most significant is the proposed ‘Working Family Payment’ targeted at low-income families. Over the course of the next six months, we will develop proposals for the new payment.

In doing so, we will be guided by two principles. First, that it should ensure that work pays and that no family is better off on welfare than at work, and second, though equally important, that it has a positive effect on child poverty.

Making Work Pay cannot just be about welfare payments and top-ups. It also has to tackle low pay. The Programme for Government also commits to supporting an increase in the minimum wage.

The Government will also strengthen the role of the Low Pay Commission to examine the gender pay gap and strengthen regulations on precarious work.