asked the Minister for Social Welfare why ESB contract meter readers are, since 1968, no longer regarded as insurable under the Social Welfare Acts.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - ESB Meter Readers.
11.
The question of the insurability under the Social Welfare Acts of employment as a contract or part-time meter reader by the ESB was raised in 1967 and, following an appeal against a decision given by a deciding officer in a typical case, it was decided by an appeals officer in August, 1968, that such employment, not being under a contract of service, is not insurable under the Acts.
Is it true that some people were regarded as being in insurable employment at that time but that afterwards they were not so regarded?
The question was raised by the ESB—the question of insurability of these contract employees. That was in 1967. A decision was made by a deciding officer and upheld by an appeals officer that under the Acts they were not insurable.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree that the extent and nature of the work being done have changed considerably over the years and that it is time the Social Welfare people would regard them as being insurable?
With regard to the first part of the supplementary, I am not aware that any substantial change has taken place in the employment conditions of those people. On the second part of the supplementary, I would be anxious that the fullest possible coverage would be extended to all workers.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree that, as rural electrification extended and as this particular group work only in the rural areas—the people who work for the ESB in the city areas are under a different scheme—the work must have expanded considerably and also the expense with the increase in the cost of petrol?
The information available to me is that there has been no substantial change in the working conditions of these people.