Batt O'Keeffe
Question:103 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he proposes to ensure that it pays a person to work rather than be on social welfare. [1702/96]
Vol. 462 No. 1
103 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he proposes to ensure that it pays a person to work rather than be on social welfare. [1702/96]
Since I became Minister for Social Welfare, I have given particular priority to the need to ensure that the social welfare system encourages people to create employment and to take up jobs.
I remind the Deputy of the many changes aimed at improving incentives in the social welfare system which were announced in this year's budget. First, there were three measures in relation to people with children, as these families can face particular disincentives to work. Instead of just selectively increasing child dependant allowances for unemployed families, we are increasing child benefit, which is paid to all families with children; so an employed person with children gains as much as an unemployed person. This builds on the progress made last year, when we gave a very substantial increase in child benefit. We are also increasing payments under the family income supplement scheme, which is paid to low-paid employees with children. In addition, in order to improve the transition to work for unemployed people with children, I am bringing in new arrangements whereby a person who takes up employment will continue to receive child dependant allowances for up to 13 weeks in certain circumstances.