andMr. Boland asked the Minister for Social Welfare the plans, if any, for the extension of the social insurance scheme to the self-employed and the likely cost of such a scheme.
Written Answers. - Social Insurance for Self-Employed.
213.
As the Deputies will be aware, this matter was adverted to in the Green Paper entitled "A National Income-Related Pension Scheme" and a further discussion paper on the specific issue of social insurance for the self-employed was published in January 1978. In the light of the views received in response to these discussion documents, proposals for further action in relation to pensions generally are now being prepared in my Department and the question of extending social insurance for pensions purposes to the self-employed is being considered in that context. The cost will, of course, depend on the nature of any scheme finally proposed.