Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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278. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will carry out a review of a family income supplement payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35896/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned is awarded family income supplement (FIS) from 11 February 2016 to 8 February 2017 at a weekly rate of €137 as appropriate to her family size.

The rules governing the payment of FIS state that, once FIS is granted, it is payable for a 52 week period as long as the underlying employment conditions are satisfied and regardless of changes in circumstances. There are only two exceptions to this rule and these are set out in legislation. The exceptions are where there is an additional qualified child through birth/fostering/adoption and where One Parent Family (OFP) ceases due to the youngest child reaching the age threshold for that scheme.

While my Department acknowledges that the lady in question has ceased claiming OFP, this does not warrant a review of her FIS rate at present. Her entitlement to FIS will be reviewed when she is due for renewal in early February 2017.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.