Vol. 465 No. 7
35 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will report on the possibility of participants in the community employment scheme being entitled to payment of a family income supplement in cases where they meet the eligibility criteria which already applies to regular, part-time employees. [9950/96]
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 House, 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.
36 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of deserted spouses who are currently contributing part of their income to his Department in view of a lone parents' allowance being awarded. [9433/96]
At the end of April 1996, 292 liable relatives were contributing to the Department on a regular basis, mostly by way of transferred maintenance payments, in respect of lone parent allowance, deserted wife's benefit and deserted wife's allowance in payment of their spouses.
