Vol. 404 No. 5
58 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Social Welfare the additional revenue or estimated additional revenue that would accrue to the social insurance fund by (a) increasing employers' PRSI contributions in PRSI Classes B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, M and N to the Class A rate and (b) increasing employees' PRSI contributions in PRSI Classes B, C, D, E, F, H, J, K and M to the Class A rate.
Of the approximately 1.3 million insured persons some 70 per cent pay at the Class A rate which provides cover for all social insurance benefits and pensions. A further 12 per cent pay at Class B, C, D, or H rates which apply to persons in different areas of the public service. The remaining classes apply to other situations which are covered for a restricted range of social insurance benefits as considered appropriate to those concerned. They include self-employed persons, persons in employment of inconsiderable extent, and pensioners.
The extension of full social insurance cover to all classes of contributor, would have major policy and financial implications. As far as public service employments are concerned the Government have already stated their objective of extending full PRSI cover to public sector employees on a basis acceptable to all parties involved.
In the case of other classes of contributor, I am examining ways of streamlining the present arrangements and reducing the number of different classes. There is no question at this stage, however, of abolishing all of the different classes as the application of full social insurance coverage would not be appropriate in all cases.
