Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 April 2007
74 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the average processing time for a new family income supplement claim; the number of new claims and renewals awaiting decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15322/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Family Income Supplement is designed to provide cash support for employees on low earnings with families. This preserves the incentive to remain in employment in circumstances where the employee might only be marginally better off than if he or she were claiming other social welfare payments.
To ensure that families are made aware of these improvements, my Department undertook a nationwide awareness campaign in March 2006 to promote and encourage a greatly increased take up of the Family Income Supplement scheme for working families on low incomes. This extensive week-long campaign included advertising on TV, on national and local radio and in the national and regional press. A nation-wide poster campaign was also undertaken. In addition, the scheme was promoted through my Department's network of Local offices, Citizen Information Centres and Citizens Information Phone service and by the Citizens Information Board (formerly known as Comhairle), the national information support agency. Information was also made available through my Department's website.
I am very pleased with the response so far to the campaign. For example from March to December 2006 my Department received 11,995 new FIS claims; this compares with 6,743 received in the same period in 2005. My Department has received 3,564 new claims so far this year compared with 1,749 for the corresponding period in 2005. The general trend for both new claims and renewals is for numbers to continue to rise. The advertising campaign has resulted in a higher than normal number of claims on hand (ie. 6,823 at end of March 2007) and I would expect a high percentage of these to translate into awards. The increase in the number of claims received regrettably has resulted in delays in claim processing. At present it is taking ten weeks to process a FIS claim.
The increase in the numbers of persons receiving FIS is a positive development, reflecting the success of a range of Government measures which have improved net incomes for the low paid. Overall, the numbers claiming FIS has increased from 14,688 in 1999 to over 23,000 in 2006 during which time expenditure on the support scheme has increased from €31million to €107 million.
