Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 18 Apr 1996

Vol. 464 No. 2

Written Answers. - FIS and Community Employment Workers.

Tony Gregory

Question:

111 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will review the entitlement of community employment scheme workers for family income supplement in view of his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 120 of 28 March 1996 and the submission (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7884/96]

Tony Gregory

Question:

112 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Social Welfare his response to a submission (details supplied) from the Fountain Resource Group, Dublin 8, regarding the entitlement of community employment scheme workers to family income supplement in each instance where if their employment was other than a community employment scheme they would technically qualify for a family income supplement. [7888/96]

Minister for Social Welfare (Proinsias De Rossa)

It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 111 and 112 together.

I have no plans to review the criteria of entitlement to family income supplement (FIS) to include community employment (CE) scheme workers. As I have already indicated to the Deputy, I do not consider that FIS is an appropriate mechanism for improving the income of these workers. The level of allowance payable to CE workers is a matter for the Department of Enterprise and Employment.

In response to the submission from the Fountain Resource Group, I would like to clarify that the FIS scheme is designed to provide an incentive for low paid workers with families to take up or remain in full-time employment. The CE scheme provides part-time employment opportunities to reintegrate the unemployed into the labour market and to provide a resource for local development and for the voluntary and community sectors.