Written Answers Nos. 220-238
220. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost in 2018 and full year cost of increasing the qualified child payment from €29.80 by €3.20 to €33 and €5.20 to €35 and knock on effects on other payment schemes; the estimated cost for similar increases to the back to work family dividend; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40030/17]
View answer221. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the living alone allowance by €5 per week from €9 to €14, by €6 per week, and by €11 per week, in 2018; the full year cost of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40031/17]
View answer224. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the jobseeker's allowance rates for those under 26 years of age to the full adult rate in 2018; the full year cost of same; the estimated cost of increasing it to €147.80 for all those from 18 to 24 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40034/17]
View answer229. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost for 2018 of indexing all weekly payments in line with increases to HICP and CPI; the estimated cost of an across the board €5 increase by each scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40039/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 220, 221, 224 and 229 together.
The cost of increasing the qualified child increase by €3.20, from €29.80 to €33 per week, is estimated at €62.4 million in 2018 and a full year. This includes the costs associated with the Back to Work Family Dividend (€2.3 million), the weekly rate of which is based on the rate of the qualified child increase.
The full year cost of increasing the qualified child increase by €5.20, from €29.80 to €35 per week, is estimated at €101.4 million in 2018. This includes the costs associated with the Back to Work Family Dividend (€3.7 million).
The cost of increasing the Living Alone Allowance, from €9 per week, by €5 per week, by €6 per week and by €11 per week is estimated at €52.2 million, €62.6 million and €114.8 million respectively in 2018 and a full year.
The full year cost of increasing the age-related reduced rates of Jobseeker’s Allowance, from €102.70 per week (for 18 to 24 year olds) and €147.80 per week (for 25 year olds) to €193 per week is €108.9 million in 2018 and a full year. The full year cost of increasing the age-related reduced rate of Jobseeker’s Allowance from €102.70 per week (for 18 to 24 year olds) to €147.80 per week is €50.1 million in 2018 and a full year. These costs include bringing the qualified adult rate for those on the €102.70 rate up to the maximum of €128.20 per week, and increasing the equivalent age-related reduced rates for Supplementary Welfare Allowance.
The Department of Finance’s Summer Economic Statement provides a 2018 forecast for HICP of 1.2%. Increasing all weekly payments (as listed below) by 1.2% would cost €177 million in 2018 and a full year. The Central Bank’s most recent Quarterly Bulletin (Q3, 2017) forecasts CPI in 2018 at 1.3%. Increasing all weekly payments by 1.3% would cost €193 million in 2018 and a full year.
A €5 increase in the weekly rates of payment across all schemes would cost €350 million in 2018 and a full year. The breakdown of cost by scheme is detailed in the following table. The costs include proportional increases for qualified adults and for those on reduced rates of payment.
|
Weekly payments |
Cost of €5 increase (€m) |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
103.2 |
|
Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Con) Pension |
28.7 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
2.2 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
17.1 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Contributory) |
0.3 |
|
Death Benefit Pension |
0.2 |
|
Disablement Pension |
1.2 |
|
Illness Benefit |
14.5 |
|
Injury Benefit |
0.4 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
0.3 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
8.4 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
0.7 |
|
Health and Safety Benefit |
0.0 |
|
Maternity & Adoptive Benefit |
5.2 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
0.2 |
|
State Pension (Non Con) |
25.2 |
|
Blind Person's Pension |
0.3 |
|
Widow/ers or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Con) Pension |
0.4 |
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance |
0.0 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
10.1 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
15.9 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory) |
0.1 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
55.5 |
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance |
0.0 |
|
Disability Allowance |
37.7 |
|
Farm Assist |
2.4 |
|
Employment Support Schemes (BTWEA & BTEA) |
5.3 |
|
Employment/Internship Schemes (CE, Tús, RSS etc.) |
10.4 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
4.7 |
|
TOTAL |
350.0 |
It should be noted that all of these costings are subject to change over the coming weeks in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2018.
222. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the family income supplement thresholds by €5, €10, €15 and €20 respectively in 2018; the full year cost of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40032/17]
View answerThe Family Income Supplement (FIS) is an in-work support, which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. FIS is designed to prevent in-work poverty for low paid workers with child dependants and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment. There are currently nearly 57,000 families with more than 126,000 children in receipt of FIS. The estimated spend on FIS this year is approximately €422 million.
To qualify for FIS, a person must be engaged in full-time insurable employment which is expected to last for at least 3 months and be working for a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight or 19 hours per week. A couple may combine their hours of employment to meet the qualification criteria. The applicant must also have at least one qualified child who normally resides with them or is supported by them. Furthermore, the average family income must be below a specified amount, which varies according to the number of qualified children in the family.
The estimated cost of increasing the family income supplement thresholds by €5, €10, €15 and €20 respectively in 2018; and the full year cost of same is as follows:-
|
Increase |
Estimated Additional Amount |
Total Estimated Cost |
|
€5 |
€8.7m |
€404m |
|
€10 |
€17.4m |
€413m |
|
€15 |
€26.2m |
€423m |
|
€20 |
€34.9m |
€430m |
Budget 2016 increased the income thresholds of €5 for families with one child and €10 for families with two or more children. Any changes to the FIS income thresholds would have significant cost implications and would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
223. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of ending the JobPath contracts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40033/17]
View answerReferrals to the JobPath companies end under contact on 31st December 2019. The JobPath contract does contain a provision for early termination. It requires my Department to serve six months written notice on the contractor. The information in relation to payments, if any, associated with termination of the contract, is both confidential and commercially sensitive and to publish same would place the State at a disadvantage both in terms of the contracts now in place and any future procurement that may be undertaken.
I trust this clarifies the matters for the Deputy.
225. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the once-off and the estimated 2018 cost of returning to the PRSI contribution schedule for qualification to the contributory old age pension that existed pre 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40035/17]
View answerAs a result of more people living to pension age and living longer in retirement the number of State pension recipients is increasing year on year. This has significant implications for the future costs of State pension provision. This demographic change alone is expected to increase spending on pensions by over €220 million this year – not including the impact of rate increases.
A number of significant reforms to State pensions were introduced in recent years which have allowed my Department maintain the value of the State pension, and indeed increase it in the last two Budgets. With effect from April 2012, the number of paid contributions required to qualify for a State Pension (contributory), or SPC, increased from 260 paid contributions to 520 paid contributions. At the time this measure was introduced, the annual exchequer savings were expected to be in the region of €6m per annum but rising substantially in the long term. Therefore, the cost of reverting now would be significantly higher. However, as people with 260-519 paid contributions no longer make claims to SPC, the data is not available to update this costing.
The current rate bands applying to the SPC were introduced from September 2012, replacing previous rates introduced in 2000. These rate bands more closely reflect the social insurance contributions history of a person than those in place between 2000 and 2012.
It is estimated that to revert to the previous bands from January 2018 would result in an annual cost of over €60 million in 2018, and this annual cost would increase by an estimated €10 million each following year (e.g. it would be expected to cost some €70 million in 2019). This estimate reflects the numbers of those in receipt of reduced rate SPC payments, and does not include those who are claiming an alternative payment at a higher rate than their reduced SPC entitlement, and who might qualify for a higher rate of SPC if such a change were introduced. This estimate also assumes that any such change to rate bands would generally be implemented from a current date and as a result not generate retrospective arrears.
The main beneficiaries from such a decision would be younger (post 2012) pensioners who both:
(a) haven’t sufficient paid contributions into the Social Insurance Fund to qualify for a contributory pension at the maximum rate, or for the 98% rate applying to those with a yearly average of 40-47 weekly PRSI contributions paid or credited per year, and
(b) do not qualify for means-tested pension payments at the maximum rate because, in addition to their state pension, they also have means above a certain level (e.g. they are in receipt of an occupational pension and/or own a second residential property).
The savings created by the new rate bands were an alternative to cutting the core rate of pensions, at a time when Exchequer savings were required, and other social protection payments were being reduced across the board. Had a similar approach been taken with pensions, affecting everyone over State pension age – regardless of their means and their contribution record – the hardest hit would have been pensioners with no additional incomes, notably those paid a State pension (non-contributory), and widows and widowers living alone on one pension payment. A very significantly higher proportion of such pensioners are women, and this would have been expected to result in more women over 65 experiencing consistent poverty, relative to men.
The alternative approach, taken by the Government at that time, made savings in respect of the State pension (contributory) by making rates of payment for new pensioners more reflective of contribution history, while maintaining the rates of payment for non-contributory and Widows/widowers pensions, as well as for contributory pensions paid to those who had contributed into the Social Insurance Fund throughout their working lives (i.e. with a yearly average of 40 or more). This approach safeguarded those most vulnerable pensioners, whilst avoiding undermining the contributory system, which is the basis for collection of PRSI, which funds the SPC on a ‘Pay-As-You-Go’ basis.
Where people do not qualify for a maximum-rate contributory pension in their own right, the social protection system provides alternative methods of supporting such pensioners in old age. Where their spouse has a contributory pension, they may qualify for an Increase for a Qualified Adult amounting up to 90% of a full rate pension, which by default is paid directly to them, and is subject to a personal means-test. Alternatively, they may qualify for a means-tested State Pension (non-contributory), based on their household means, amounting up to 95% of the maximum contributory pension rate. There are very significant income and capital disregards in these means tests, which result in the large majority being paid at the maximum rate.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
226. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost in 2018 of increasing rent supplement limits to reflect market rents; the cost of an increase that would be required to capture the 35th percentile and the 50th percentile of the market; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40036/17]
View answerRent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme currently supporting 38,600 recipients at a cost of €253 million in 2017.
The Department carried out a review of the rent limits in 2016 with the commitments contained in the Programme for a Partnership Government and increased limits were introduced in all areas of the country with effect from 1 July 2016. The review process represented a realignment of the maximum rent limits with agreed rents, with rents generally benchmarked against the 35th percentile of those registered with the Residential Tenancies Board. The review’s methodology is evidenced based and reflects the pressures on rental properties in each location.
The information requested by the Deputy, the estimated cost to increase rent limits to market rents at the 35th percentile and the 50th percentile for 2018, is not available.
The rent supplement scheme is being administered to take account of the on-going rental market difficulties through the implementation of a targeted case-by-case approach that allows for flexibility where landlords seek rents in excess of the rent limits. In addition, a Protocol arrangement is in place with Threshold and is operational in the areas where supply issues are particularly acute covering Kildare, Dublin, Cork, Meath, Wicklow and Galway City. For 2017 to date, some of 1,400 recipients have been supported with increased rent payments above the rent limits.
As the Deputy will be aware the strategic policy direction of my Department is to return rent supplement to its original purpose of being a short-term income support with the introduction of the HAP scheme. Any further review of prescribed rent limits would have to be considered in a budgetary context and in conjunction with my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
227. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the back to school clothing and footwear allowance by €50 for each category for 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40037/17]
View answerThe back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn.
The rates of the payment for the 2017 scheme were increased from €100 to €125 for children aged 4 to 11 and from €200 to €250 for children aged 12 years and over. This brings the total allocation for the allowance this year to €47.4 million, an increase of €10 million on what was originally proposed for 2017.
The annual cost to increase the payments by €50, from the recently announced 2017 rates to €175 and €300, would be €14.1 million over and above the €47.4 million now allocated to the scheme for 2017.
Any further changes to the rates of the allowance would have to be considered within a budgetary context and the scope of the overall resources available for welfare improvements.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
228. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of expanding child benefit to parents with children who are 18 years of age or older but remain in second level education for 2018; the cost for a full year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40038/17]
View answerChild Benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children up to their 18th birthday who are in full-time education, or who have a disability. Child Benefit is currently paid to around 619,880 families in respect of some 1.2 million children, with an estimated expenditure of over €2 billion in 2017.
The current estimated cost of expanding child benefit to parents with children that are 18 years of age or older but remain in second level education for 2018 based on figures from the Department of Education and Skills for 2016 which show 58,653 individuals 18 years of age and over in second level education. The estimated annual cost based on the current Child Benefit rate of €140 per month is approximately €98.5 million in a full year.
Budget 2009 reduced the age for eligibility for Child Benefit from 19 years to less than 18 years. A value for money review of child income supports, published by the Department of Social Protection in 2010, found that the participation pattern of children in education supports the current age limit for Child Benefit.
Given the universality of Child Benefit, allowing for it to be paid in respect of 18 year olds still in full time education would not be a targeted approach. The adoption of such a proposal has significant cost implications and would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
Families on low incomes can avail of a number of provisions to social welfare schemes that support children in full-time education until the age of 22, including:
- Increase for a Qualified Child (IQCs) with primary social welfare payments;
- Family Income Supplement (FIS) for low-paid employees with children;
- The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance for low income families (paid at the full-time second level education rate).
These schemes provide targeted assistance that is directly linked with household income and thereby supports low-income families with older children participating in full-time education.
230. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if procedures can be put in place to review a decision to refuse a disability allowance in the case of persons (details supplied); when their payment will be restored; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40052/17]
View answerThis lady submitted an application for disability allowance (DA) on 12 May 2016.
The application, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds and the person in question was notified in writing of this decision on 27 July 2016 and of her rights of review and appeal. She appealed to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) this decision by a deciding officer to disallow her application for disability allowance.
Following due consideration, the appeal of the person in question was disallowed by an appeals officer (AO) on 14 December 2016. She was notified of this decision in writing by the SWAO on the same date. An AO’s decision is final and conclusive in absence of any fresh facts or evidence.
I confirm my Department received a new application for DA on 28 July 2017. This application is being processed and the person in question will be notified in writing when a decision has been made.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
231. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) whose application for jobseeker's has been refused may qualify for family income supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40054/17]
View answerFamily Income Supplement (FIS) is a weekly tax-free payment available to employees with one or more qualified children. The scheme provides additional financial support to employees on low pay.
One of the conditions for receipt of FIS is that an applicant or the applicant and spouse, partner or cohabitant must be engaged in full-time remunerative employment as an employee for not less than 38 hours per fortnight or 19 hours per week.
Entitlement to FIS can only be established on receipt of a completed application form and to date no application has been received from the person concerned. The Department has sent an application form to the person concerned and their entitlement will be examined when it is completed and returned.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
232. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason jobseeker's allowance has been terminated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40056/17]
View answerAs part of the jobseekers claim review process, the person concerned was requested by a Social Welfare Inspector to submit documentation so as to clarify their current means. The person concerned failed to supply the required documents within one month.
The Deciding Officer (DO) disallows the claim as it was not possible to establish that, based on the information available to them, the person's weekly means, calculated in accordance with legislative provisions, are below the amount of jobseeker allowance which would otherwise be payable to the person given their circumstances.
This decision has issued to the person concerned and they have been advised of their right of appeal. Alternatively, if they supply the outstanding documentation requested, the current decision can be reviewed.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
233. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when her Department will determine that settlement in respect of the sale of the family home due to separation is likely to be deemed dissipated in the case of a person (details supplied); if the person is likely to receive rent support until all the proceeds have been spent; if this is in accordance with the regulations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40057/17]
View answerThe rent supplement claim for the person concerned was disallowed as she failed to provide documentation that would allow an accurate assessment of her entitlement.
As previously stated in PQ Ref No. 32039-17, the person concerned has appealed this decision and her case has been referred to the Appeals Office. The Appeals Office has not yet made a decision on the case.
The appeals process functions independently of my Department and will need to be completed before any further action can be considered.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
234. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) qualifies for a long-term medical payment such as a disability allowance or an invalidity pension in view of their medical history; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40059/17]
View answerI confirm that my Department received an application for disability allowance from this lady on 22 August 2017. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
The processing time for individual disability allowance claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim.
Invalidity Pension is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the contribution conditions. Based on the contributions for this lady, she would not qualify for this scheme.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
235. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) can qualify for welfare assistance; if the case can be urgently reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40061/17]
View answerThe Department has a number of supports available for those involved in part time work or on low earnings, depending on their circumstances, this would include Family Income Supplement or casual jobseekers payment.
The person concerned had submitted a jobseekers application to the Department previously, but unfortunately did not supply the required documentation and therefore the Deciding Officer (DO) was not in a position to decide the claim. If they wish to the person concerned can submit a new application, with the required documentation, and a DO will make a determination as to their eligibility to the scheme.
Alternatively, Family Income Supplement (FIS), which is a weekly tax-free payment available to employees with children, may be a more appropriate option given their circumstances. FIS gives extra financial support to people on low pay who work 38 or more hours per fortnight. This can be combined with the weekly hours of a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant to meet this condition. For FIS the employment must be likely to last at least 3 months, the applicant must have one or more child (ren) who normally live with claimant and earn less than an amount set according to family size. Application forms for are available from local Intreo centres and Branch Offices or is downloadable from this link FIS application form
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
236. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) qualifies for a FIS payment; if the matter can be clarified as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40064/17]
View answerFamily Income Supplement (FIS) is a weekly tax-free payment available to employees with one or more qualified children. The scheme provides additional financial support to employees on low pay.
One of the conditions for receipt of FIS is that an applicant or the applicant and spouse, partner or cohabitant must be engaged in full-time remunerative employment as an employee for not less than 38 hours per fortnight or 19 hours per week.
An application for FIS in respect of the person concerned was submitted to this Department on 28th August 2017.
A Deciding Officer initially decided to disallow the person’s application and the applicant was notified of the decision on 08th September 2017.
A Deciding Officer has subsequently reviewed this decision and decided that the person concerned is entitled to FIS from the date they applied for the payment. Notification of this decision will issue on 19th September 2017.
237. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason disability allowance was terminated in the case of a person (details supplied); if it has been determined that they and their spouse are suffering hardship as a result; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40065/17]
View answerI confirm that the above named person was in receipt of disability allowance (DA) from my Department. In November 2016 the claim was reviewed by the Social Welfare Inspector (SWI). In April 2017, following on from meetings held with the SWI on 8 February 2017 and 6 March 2017, the person concerned was advised that his claim would be suspended with effect from 2 May 2017 due to non-disclosure of details of financial accounts plus documentary evidence of travel outside of the State. The customer was offered the right to a review of this decision.
On 17 May 2017 this man was advised that his DA claim had been terminated with effect from 2 May 2017 and again, was offered the right to a review or an appeal. The person in question can apply to the Community Welfare Officer for the means tested Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) if he is in need of financial assistance.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
238. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to solve the problems facing part-time and seasonal workers in trying to access social protection payments; her further plans to deal with the constraints surrounding the requirement to make 13 work contributions within the last 78 days of an existing claim, the income level of the subsidiary income threshold which mitigate against seasonal and part time workers’ rights; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40070/17]
View answerThe jobseeker's benefit (JB) and jobseeker’s allowance (JA) schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and who are available for and genuinely seeking full-time employment. Jobseeker’s allowance is a means tested social assistance payment whereas jobseeker’s benefit is a contribution based insurance scheme. The 2017 Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseekers’ schemes of €2.5 billion.
It is important in the interests of equity and fairness that the conditions for receipt of a jobseekers payment apply to all recipients, including those who could be categorised as seasonal and part-time workers.
Where a person exhausts his or her entitlement to JB, he or she must pay 13 additional PRSI contributions after the last day of payment in order to requalify. The 13 contributions needed to re-qualify for JB can be paid in respect of full time employment, seasonal employment, part-time employment or casual employment. If a seasonal or a part time worker meets this requirement they may requalify for jobseeker’s benefit.
This requirement is in place to ensure the person has a reasonable connection with the labour market before he or she can requalify for payment. If a person does not re-qualify for jobseeker’s benefit or has used up his or her entitlement to jobseeker's benefit, then he or she might qualify for JA, subject to the means test and other conditions.
One of the conditions for receipt of JB is that the person must be unemployed for at least 4 days out of 7 in order to qualify. However, there are circumstances where it is possible for a person to be engaged in employment (either insurable or self-employment) on a given day and still satisfy the unemployment condition for that day. This type of employment is known as ‘subsidiary employment’. In order to be deemed “subsidiary”, the employment must be capable of being carried out outside the ordinary working hours of person’s “usual employment”. In addition, the employment is subject to a daily earnings limit of €12.70 per day unless the person has more than 117 contributions paid in the preceding three years from the date of their claim (in which case no earnings limit is applicable).
An Taoiseach, in his previous role as Minister for Social Protection, gave a commitment at Dáil report stage of the Social Welfare Bill 2016 that he would ask officials to examine the issue of jobseeker’s benefit and the treatment of part-time and seasonal workers, including those categorised as having subsidiary employment. As a result, my Department is currently finalising a report in relation to these issues.
