Vol. 405 No. 9
29 Mr. T. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has any proposals to tackle the anomaly whereby casual workers signing on get no credited contributions towards pension or unemployment purposes, while fully employed and fully unemployed workers in a position to maintain their insurance records do, bearing in mind that casual workers working under ten hours a week will continue even after the proposed legislation on part-time workers is enacted.
Under present legislation part time or casual workers who are employed for fewer than 18 hours per week and who are not mainly dependent on their earnings from that employment are insurable at a reduced rate of PRSI contribution which gives cover for occupational injuries benefit only. Under present arrangements, a credited contribution is awarded to an unemployed person only where he or she proves unemployment for a full contribution week.
The Deputy will be aware that in line with the commitment given in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress I have recently made regulations extending social insurance cover to part time workers with effect from 6 April next. In summary the changes proposed are that social insurance cover is being provided to all private sector employees earning £40 or more per week. Such workers will have access to the full range of social insurance payments. Short term benefits will be payable on a pro-rata basis to insured persons earning below £70 per week. Pensions will be paid at the full rate.
The new arrangements will mitigate to a large extent the problems identified by the Deputy. The question of awarding credited contributions to unemployed persons who wish to take up part time employment for less than £40 weekly is at present being examined in my Department.
