Vol. 453 No. 7
99 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he intends to prosecute a company (details supplied) which failed to pay PRSI contributions in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15 during the period September 1992 to August 1993. [9924/95]
The person concerned commenced employment with this company in November 1991 and the employment terminated on 16 July 1994. During the period September 1992 to September 1993 he was participating in a special off-the-job apprenticeship course at a FÁS training centre.
He claimed disability benefit from 18 July 1994 but did not qualify as there was no record of pay-related social insurance contributions having been paid on his behalf. The matter was referred to a social welfare inspector for investigation. The inquiries made by the inspector indicate that the person concerned was not paid wages in respect of the period September 1992 to September 1993 when he was participating in a FÁS apprenticeship course. The employer has indicated that he was not in a position to pay wages and it seems that there was some understanding between him and the employee in this regard. Since no pay-related social insurance contributions are due the question of prosecuting the employer for non-payment in respect of this period does not arise. The person concerned has been credited with social insurance contributions in respect of the periods November 1991 to September 1992 and September 1993 to July 1994. Unfortunately, this does not give him sufficient contributions to qualify for disability benefit.
