Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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229. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to set out the status of a family income supplement in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38440/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned applied for family income supplement (FIS) on 6th July 2015. The claim was refused by a deciding officer (DO) on the grounds that the person concerned was not working the required number of hours in order to qualify.

The person concerned appealed this decision and the appeal was allowed by an appeals officer (AO) in November 2016.

Unfortunately, the family income had not been fully assessed at the time of the original claim as it was considered by the DO that the claim was invalid due to the issue with the number of hours being worked. The claim is currently being examined by a DO in order to determine the correct rate of FIS due. The DO may need to get further clarification from the person in question on information already to hand in order to complete this as soon as possible. Once the correct rate of FIS has been determined, the decision of the AO will be implemented without delay and all arrears due will be issued.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.