Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Dec 2001

Vol. 546 No. 3

Written Answers. - PRSI Payments.

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

38 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the amount of PRSI payments due from FÁS in relation to community employment workers who were credited with the wrong class of insurance stamp; and if the rights of these workers are fully credited and protected. [31611/01]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

The question relates to the insurability for PRSI purposes of certain people who were employed as senior trainees by FÁS and the consequential implications for their entitlement to social welfare benefits.

Following an examination of this matter, my Department decided that the persons in question, who were employed by FÁS as instructors or trainers were insurable at the PRSI class A rate of contribution. FÁS had previously paid PRSI class J contributions for these employments.

Details of all of the "senior trainees" in question and of the periods of their employment have been furnished to the Department.

It will now be necessary to have the PRSI records of all these employees amended to reflect the correct (class A) PRSI status. The question of liability for arrears of PRSI contributions will be addressed when the periods involved in each case have been established.

Due to the scale of the work involved in regularising the PRSI records for such a large number of employees, I regret that I cannot at this stage confirm what will be the amount of the liability in this case. It is hoped to have all of the individual cases fully resolved early next year.

My Department will arrange for the correction, as soon as possible, of the PRSI record of any person who wishes to make a claim to any benefit based on the class A contributions which were payable in respect of the employments concerned. In such cases the Department can treat the class A contributions as paid, pending a final resolution of the matter. As an interim measure, I have arranged to have the records of all of the people in question carry a special indicator which draws attention to the fact that their records require this amendment.

This will ensure that there will be no loss of entitlement to anyone making a claim to benefit from a current date. I have also arranged to identify any cases where any of the employees in question may have made a claim to benefit previously, and where these particular contributions would have had a bearing on the outcome of any such claim. Where any such cases are identified, any action which may be required to remedy the situation will be taken.

I would like to reiterate that all employees will have their rights fully protected.

FÁS has confirmed that the correct class A rate is now being paid in respect of the employees in question.