Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 February 2004
130 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will examine the basis for payment of FIS with a view to improving and expanding the scheme; the recommendations which the working group has made to improve the take-up of FIS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3998/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraFamily income supplement, FIS, is designed to provide cash support for employees with families on low earnings and thereby preserve the incentive to remain in employment in circumstances where the employee might only be marginally better off than if s/he were claiming other social welfare payments. The improvements to the family income supplement scheme, including the assessment of FIS on the basis of net rather than gross income and the progressive increases in the income limits, have made it easier for lower income households to qualify under the scheme.
In this year's budget, I provided for further increases in the FIS income limits with effect from January 2004. These increases raised the weekly income limits by €28 at each point, adding an extra €16.80 to the payments of most existing FIS recipients. I also increased the minimum FIS payment by €7 per week, from €13 to €20. The average weekly payment now stands at €88.47 per week, with a total of 12,200 families receiving a supplement under the scheme. Under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness a working group chaired by the Department of Finance, examined the role which refundable tax credits can play in the tax and welfare system, with a specific brief to examine the payment of FIS through the tax system. While the group's final report is awaited, I expect the principal recommendations regarding FIS will be to continue payment through the social welfare system while maximising effects to increase take-up.
On the question of take-up, every effort is made to ensure that people are made aware of their entitlements to all social welfare schemes, including FIS. For instance, information on FIS is provided on child benefit payable order books and has been advertised by the Revenue Commissioners on tax certification. Both of these measures ensured that information in relation to the scheme has been made available to every eligible household in the country. In addition, the scheme has been extensively advertised through local and national media outlets, including newspapers, radio and the Aertel service, as well as through poster campaigns and targeted mailshots.
The question of further improvements to the scheme is a matter for consideration in a budgetary context, having regard to available resources and Government commitments.
