Vol. 437 No. 6
229 Mr. Cox asked the Minister for Social Welfare the amount of extra revenue which would be raised by the elimination of the PRSI ceiling from 6 April 1994 until 31 December 1994; and the amount which would be raised in a full year.
It is estimated that the elimination of the PRSI ceiling for both employers and employees in all contribution classes would yield an extra £30 million in revenue from 6 April to 31 December 1994, and £149 million in a full year.
230 Mr. Cox asked the Minister for Social Welfare the amount the introduction of full PRSI for public servants would raise from 6 April 1994, to 31 December 1994, and in a full year.
231 Mr. Cox asked the Minister for Social Welfare the additional entitlements, if any, that would accrue to public servants if they were paying full PRSI; and the current cost estimate in respect of such benefits.
It is proposed to take questions Nos. 230 and 231 together.
The application of full PRSI cover for public servants now insured at the modified rate, if applied to all existing and future public servants, would raise an estimated £345 million from 6 April to 31 December 1994 and an estimated £469 million in a full year by way of additional PRSI contributions.
Public servants insured at the modified rate are covered at present only for widows' and orphans' pensions, deserted wife's benefit and limited occupational injuries benefits. The full rate of social insurance contribution includes cover for the full range of social insurance benefits including unemployment, disability and maternity benefits, invalidity, retirement and old age contributory pensions, death grant and treatment benefits.
The additional costs involved in extending full PRSI to public servants would depend on the range of benefits for which they would qualify, any arrangements for phasing in these entitlements and the extent to which the benefits are co-ordinated with entitlements under public service occupational benefits arrangements.
