asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of families in receipt of family income supplement at the latest date for which figures are available; if, in view of the relatively small numbers who have taken advantage of this, he will consider the possibility of the Revenue Commissioners being asked to circulate information on the scheme to married wage earners in the relevant income brackets; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Family Income Supplement.
5.
On 15 June 1987 there were 5,662 families in receipt of family income supplement. Family income supplement is payable to families with one or more children and the rate is determined by the claimant's family income in the period immediately prior to the date of the claim. The most recent earnings records available to the Revenue Commissioners at any time would be in respect of the last complete tax year and as no information would be available regarding changes of circumstances in the meantime this data would not be suitable for identifying potential FIS beneficiaries. Furthermore, since the tax allowance for dependent children was abolished, the Revenue Commissioners have no means of distinguishing between families with children and without children. Consequently, it would serve no useful purpose for the Revenue Commissioners to circulate information on the lines suggested by the Deputy.
In the recent budget a considerable improvement was made to the scheme when the calculation of the amount payable was increased from one-third to one-half of the differences between the gross family income and the prescribed upper limit. Also, the maximum amount payable in respect of family size has been increased. A family with three children will now receive a maximum supplement of £30 per week as against £18 per week prior to the budget changes. Similarly, a family with five children will receive £44 per week as compared with £26. These improvements will take effect from 23 July next.
Previous attempts at general advertising have not been particularly successful. For this reason I am considering measures aimed at providing the necessary information more directly to families likely to benefit from the scheme.
I am sure the Minister will agree that this measure was brought in for poorer families, those on very low wages at the time the food subsidies were abolished, in order to supplement their incomes so that they would be capable of living and be able to buy food for their families. Is it not true that the figure of 5,662 people who are availing of this benefit is much less than what is considered to be the number who are eligible for it? The Minister pointed out the difficulties of finding out how many children people have. My question does not relate to the number of children because that can be assessed very easily. It refers to the people who on the basis of their incomes would be eligible for this benefit. There are people on incomes of £50, £60 and £70 a week who have up to five children. Surely the Minister should be able to assess the number of people who earn these low wages and who possibly would be eligible for this benefit. The people who are least able to afford this loss are the ones who know least about the scheme. They are on low wages and in non-union jobs and there is nobody there to tell them about this scheme. It is up to the Minister to find them and I would like to ask him if he has any scheme for doing that.
The question related to the possibility of the Revenue Commissioners being asked to circulate information on the scheme to married wage earners, obviously directed towards the people Deputy Mac Giolla has in mind. However, that is not feasible. I am trying to find ways of getting to those people but it is quite difficult. Obviously generalised advertising is not working. I am trying to target it more towards the people who would and should benefit from the scheme. Whether any other factor is involved is another question. I assure the Deputies that I will be giving attention to targeting the information to the people who would benefit most from it. One of the possibilities is to use the child benefit scheme as a means of directing the information to the people who would benefit.
I want an assurance from the Minister that the cutbacks will not prevent him from doing that.
That will not stop me from pursuing it.