Social Welfare Payments Administration

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 June 2015

Wednesday, 17 June 2015

Questions (59, 60)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

59. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 247 to 249, inclusive, of 9 June 2015, and in view of her reiteration in her reply that it is Government policy that An Post remain a strong and viable company which will be in a position to provide a high quality postal service, and maintain a nationwide customer focused network of post offices in the community, the reason it is no longer possible to elect to have a one-person family payment paid at the post office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24057/15]

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

60. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 247 to 249, inclusive, of 9 June 2015, the reason she can emphasise in her reply that the amendments do not remove the option to be paid at the post office, when the option to be paid at the post office no longer exists on the family income supplement application form; if she will explain the modality by which new applicants for the family income supplement, who make an application by completing the FIS1 form, may now elect to be paid at the post office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24060/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 60 together.

Further to my replies to Parliamentary Question Nos. 247, 248 and 249 of 9th June 2015, I would like to outline to the Deputy that the Family Income Support payment is a weekly payment for families at work on low pay. I can confirm to the Deputy that the option for payment of FIS through the post office network has not been included on the application form for that scheme since before 2007.

As the Family Income Supplement is an in-work payment the Department considers that payment through an account in a financial institution better facilitates those who are in work.