Vol. 429 No. 4
85 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of payments made to social welfare recipients in each social welfare category under the equality payments scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The provisions for paying equal treatment arrears to married women for the period December 1984 to November 1986 are contained in the European Communities (Social Welfare) Regulations, 1992 (S.I. No. 152 of 1992). The Regulations provide for (a) the payment of a higher personal rate in the case of certain social welfare payments, (b) the extended duration of unemployment benefit, (c) payment of a Household Supplement in respect of a dependent husband and/or dependent children and (d) payment of Unemployment Assistance. Payment of arrears due is being made on a phased bases in 1992, 1993 and 1994.
Payment of arrears due under Phase 1, that is the higher personal rates and extended duration of Unemployment Benefit, commenced in August 1992 and is expected to be completed shortly.
The number of arrears payments made to Social Welfare recipients under each of the social welfare schemes affected by the Phase 1 provisions is as follows: Disability Benefit, 46,050; Unemployment Benefit: Higher Personal Rate, 23,426; Extra Duration (including Pay-Related Benefit), 6,771; Invalidity Pension, 2,998; Injury Benefit, 530; Disablement Benefit, 41.
86 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will accept payments in respect of outstanding PRSI contributions from a person (details supplied) in County Limerick, even though this person has not finalised the payment of tax arrears with the Revenue Commissioners.
The responsibility for the collection of PRSI from the self-employed rests with the Collector-General of the Revenue Commissioners. Under Social Welfare legislation self-employed contributions, payable by a self-employed contributor are assessed, charged and paid in all respects as if they were amounts of income tax. The PRSI is, therefore, part of the tax liability of the person concerned and payment of his outstanding PRSI contributions cannot be accepted separately.
It is open to the person concerned to discuss with the Collector-General arrangements for the payment of the outstanding amounts.
