asked the Minister for Social Welfare the plans, if any, he has to include the public service in the Social Welfare system; the categories which will be included; if they will be included as A1 contributors; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Welfare System.
25.
Some of the 165,000 persons in the public sector contribute to the social insurance system on a modified basis. These contributors are insured for contributory widow's pension, contrubutory orphan's allowance, deserted wife's benefit and limited occupational injuries benefits. Their occupational sick pay and pension arrangements reflect the fact that they are not covered for the other benefits of the social insurance system.
The Commission on Social Welfare recommended that social insurance coverage should be extended to categories previously excluded from the system. The main gaps identified by the commission were the absence of social insurance coverage of any kind for the self-employed and the limited cover for public sector workers in modified insurance. The Deputy, I am sure, will be aware that self-employed persons have now been brought into the social insurance system for pension purposes. The question of extending full social insurance pension coverage to all public sector employees is under consideration. This issue raises complex questions regarding the existing conditions of employment of the employees concerned and I am not in a position at this stage to say when firm proposals in this area will be brought forward.