Rabbitte: Govt paying out huge sums of money on Family Income Supplement

Pat Rabbitte has said he will have to hear the Joan Burton's case over plans to increase the minimum wage-before outlining his position on the issue.

According to reports in today's Sunday Times, the Social Protection Minister is calling for an increase in the minimum wage over the final years of the Fine Gael-Labour government.

The move aims to reduce the reliance of lower paid workers on social welfare payments to supplement their income.

However, the Irish Small And Medium Enterprises Association is warning the Government not to raise the minimum wage, saying it would be detrimental for jobs.

The Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources said: "We obviously have to hear the case from the minister which seems to be prompted by the fact that we are paying out huge sums of money on Family Income Supplement.

"People who are at work, and whose wages are so low that they are deemed not to be a living wage, have the Family Income Supplement to support that.

"I presume this is part of the research in preparation for the Budget discussions that will be happening very soon. I will examine the data when it's brought forward."