Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2022
62. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeline for developing a communications campaign to highlight the ability of people to retain key social welfare supports when taking up employment. [14865/22]
View answerPromotional campaigns are an important part of how my Department ensures our customers are informed of the schemes and supports to which they may be entitled.
In quarters 2 and 3 of 2019 my Department ran a public information campaign to promote the Working Family Payment (WFP). The objective of the campaign was to provide customers, particularly working families on low to moderate incomes, with more information about the Working Family Payment, especially those who may not be aware of the payment or who may not realise that they qualify for it.
In 2020, 2021 and in early 2022 the main focus of my Department's communications and campaign activity was on promoting the supports available to those who had lost income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. My Department undertook extensive communications campaigns during this time to promote the COVID-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit, COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, and the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme.
We are now working on campaign planning in line with our commitments under the Pathways to Work and Roadmap for Social Inclusion strategies. In 2022 we are shifting our focus to the promotion of the Public Employment Service and the income supports available to those in work.
Dedicated campaigns are in planning for later this year, promoting transitioning into employment and the ability of people to retain key social welfare supports when taking up employment.
