asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the family income supplement does not apply to self-employed persons whose incomes are within the categories specified.
Written Answers. - Family Income Supplement.
734.
The family income supplement scheme was designed to provide cash support for employees on low earnings with families. In many cases such workers may be only marginally better off than if they were claiming disability or unemployment benefits and the scheme was intended to reduce the extent of this poverty trap. These considerations do not apply in the same way in the case of self-employed persons who at present are not covered for social insurance benefits and accordingly they were not included in the scheme.