Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Family Income Supplement.
- Family income supplement expenditure 2 speeches
The Minister reported expenditure of £4.4 million in 1987 and an Estimate of £5.3 million for 1988.
Martin Cullen, Michael Woods
- Review of supplement rules 5 speeches
Asked about the higher Estimate and possible changes, the Minister said the scheme was under review to increase participation and that current arrangements would be revised in the forthcoming Social Welfare Bill.
Jim Mitchell, Michael Woods, Seán Treacy
- Supplement expenditure in 1985 and 1986 4 speeches
The Minister supplied the omitted figures: £3.2 million in 1986 and £2.2 million in 1985.
Pearse Wyse, Michael Woods
- Supplement recipients and application forms 5 speeches
De Rossa asked for recipient numbers and proposed including eligibility information or application forms with tax allowance forms. The Minister gave recipient and child-dependent totals for 1985–87 but did not address the proposal.
Proinsias De Rossa, Seán Treacy, Michael Woods
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the amount of money paid out in family income supplement for the years 1986-87.
Comment on this
Total expenditure on family income supplement was £4.4 million in 1987 and the Estimates provision for this year is £5.3 million.
Comment on this
Arising from the Minister's reply, may I ask whether he has any intention of extending or amending the scope of the family income supplement this year?
Comment on this
This is essentially a statistical question and the Deputy should put down a question along the lines indicated.
Comment on this
It arises out of the Minister's disclosure that £5.3 million was provided in this year's Estimate. May I ask the Minister to account for the increase on last year and whether he has any intention of extending the scope or amending the rules with regard to the family income supplement.
Comment on this
These are really two questions. In reply to the first, the scheme is under review and I would hope fairly shortly to have a result of the review, the object being to try to increase participation in the scheme. The second aspect is the question of the current arrangements for the scheme. These will be revised in the forthcoming Social Welfare Bill.
Comment on this
The question asked for information about 1986 and 1987. Could the Minister tell the House what the amount was for 1986?
Comment on this
The amount for 1987 was £4.4 million and £5.3 million is the estimate for this year.
Comment on this
In relation to those three figures, the actual figures for 1986 and 1987 and the estimated figure for 1988, could the Minister give the number of applicants in receipt of family income supplement payments? Further, would he consider a suggestion I made a number of times in this House, that an indication of a person's right to this family income supplement, or application forms, should be included with tax free allowance forms when they are issued for this year, in April next?
Comment on this
It is a very important matter.