asked the Minister for Social Welfare the negotiations, if any, that have taken place between his Department and the Social Welfare Branch Managers Association concerning the 1 per cent youth employment levy, which is being deducted at source and also from the branch manager's staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers . - Youth Employment Levy .
1003.
: Since 6 April 1982, my Department has been deducting the 1 per cent youth employment levy from the total remuneration payable to branch managers of employment offices. At meetings with my Department the Branch Managers' Association made representations concerning the deduction of the levy from their total remuneration stating that they deduct the levy from the salaries which they pay to the staff they employ in employment offices out of the total remuneration they receive as branch managers.
The amounts of levy deducted by employers are payable by them to the Revenue Commissioners. At the request of the association my Department made inquiries from the Revenue Commissioners who confirmed that the deductions being made by my Department from the branch managers were being made correctly in accordance with regulations made by the Minister for Labour under the Youth Employment Agency Act, 1981. The association have now requested that the regulations be amended and the matter has been referred to the Department of Labour which is responsible for the legislation.