I move amendment No. 34:
In page 21, before section 20, but in Part 3, to insert the following new section:
"20.-The Principal Act is amended by-
(a) the substitution in section 32(1) (as amended by section 17 of the Act of 1997) for paragraph (b) of the following paragraph:
'(b)(i) that the claimant has qualifying contributions or credited contributions in respect of not less than 39 contribution weeks, of which at least 13 must be qualifying contributions, in the last complete contribution year before the beginning of the benefit year which includes the day for which the benefit is claimed, or
(ii) that the claimant has qualifying contributions in respect of not less than 26 contribution weeks in each of the last two complete contribution years before the beginning of the benefit year which includes the day for which the benefit is claimed,
and',
(b) the substitution in subparagraph (a)(i) of section 38 (inserted by section 10 of the Act of 1997) for clause (B) of the following clause:
'(B) (I) that the claimant has qualifying contributions or credited contributions in respect of not less than 39 contribution weeks in the last complete contribution year before the beginning of the benefit year in which the relevant day occurs or in a subsequent complete contribution year before the relevant day, or
(II) that the claimant has qualifying contributions in respect of not less than 26 contribution weeks in each of the last two complete contribution years before the beginning of the benefit year in which the relevant day occurs,
or',
(c) the substitution in subparagraph (a)(ii) of section 41B(1) (inserted by Article 6 of the European Communities (Social Welfare) Regulations, 1995 (S.I. No. 25 of 1995)) for clause (B) of the following clause:
'(B) (I) that the claimant has qualifying contributions or credited contributions in respect of not less than 39 contribution weeks in the last complete contribution year before the beginning of the benefit year which includes the first day for which health and safety benefit is claimed, or
(II) that the claimant has qualifying contributions in respect of not less than 26 contribution weeks in each of the last two complete contribution years before the beginning of the benefit year which includes the first day for which health and safety benefit is claimed,
and,
(d) the substitution in subparagraph (a)(i) of section 41H(1) (inserted by section 11 of the Act of 1997) for clause (B) of the following clause:
'(B) (I) that the claimant has qualifying contributions or credited contributions in respect of not less than 39 contribution weeks in the last complete contribution year before the beginning of the benefit year in which the relevant day occurs or in a subsequent complete contribution year before the relevant day, or
(II) that the claimant has qualifying contributions in respect of not less than 26 contribution weeks in each of the last two complete contribution years before the beginning of the benefit year in which the relevant day occurs,
or', and
(e) the substitution in section 43(1) (as amended by section 8 of the Social Welfare (No. 2) Act, 1993) for paragraph (b) of the following paragraph:
'(b) (i) that the claimant has qualifying contributions or credited contributions in respect of not less than 39 contribution weeks in the last complete contribution year before the beginning of the benefit year which includes the day for which the benefit is claimed, or
(ii) that the claimant has qualifying contributions in respect of not less than 26 contribution weeks in each of the last two complete contribution years before the beginning of the benefit year which includes the day for which the benefit is claimed,
and',".
Amendment No. 34 provides for changes to the existing contribution conditions for short-term social insurance benefits. The change involves the addition of an alternative contribution condition for these benefits. This is designed to make access to the benefits involved more flexible for persons who have atypical work patterns and who may fail, under current arrangements, to qualify for the relevant benefits. The proposed new arrangements will benefit about 21,000 contributors, including a wide range of atypical workers and those job sharing and work sharing.
My Department had various meetings last year with both ICTU and the Irish Banker's Federation in connection with the PRSI position of certain job sharers. I propose to introduce an alternative contribution test for short-term benefits which has been developed by my Department. This will allow people who do not meet current contribution conditions, that is, 39 PRSI contributions paid or credited in the relevant year, to claim short-term benefits if they have 26 paid contributions paid in the relevant year and 26 contributions paid in the previous year. This alternative contribution test already applies to the carer's benefit. Extending it to other benefits will be of benefit to atypical workers, for example, job sharers, who, despite a long attachment to the workforce, find that their employment pattern means they have less than 39 contributions or credits in particular years.
While it was not possible to include these new arrangements in the budget for 2001 due to other competing demands, it is proposed that the new arrangements will be implemented in 2002. This will allow adequate time to put in place the necessary computer development. It will also give advance notice of the new arrangements to those who work on an atypical basis and provide substantial flexibility in work patterns.
This measure represents another significant development of the social insurance system. Access to short-term benefits will now be more flexible thereby ensuring that many atypical workers who fail to qualify for benefits will do so in the future. This flexibility will reflect developments in the changing working environment and will be of particular value to all those who have to combine work with family responsibilities.
Amendment No. 52 is an amendment to section 28 of the Bill to provide that transitional arrangements which, in relation to all other contribution conditions, will apply similarly to these conditions.