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?

That is a separate question.

This is essentially a statistical question and the Deputy should put down a question along the lines indicated.

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.

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.