asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will provide details of the equivalent PRSI rates in each of the member states of the European Community compared with the rates applied in Ireland.
Written Answers. - PRSI Rates.
211.
Because of the way social security is organised and financed throughout the European Community the comparison of the contribution rates requested in the Deputy's question would not be possible. In some countries varying contribution rates and ceilings are applied even within the same scheme, in other cases flat-rate contributions may be levied in addition to percentage contributions and in the case of some occupational injuries schemes the contribution rates can be related to the degree of risk in an occupation.
Information on the rates of social security contributions payable in EEC member states is contained in the Commission publication "Comparative Tables of the Social Security Schemes in the Member States of the European Communities, Twelfth Edition" which relates to the situation at 1 July 1982, the most recent date for which the information is available. Table II on Financing gives a breakdown of the contributions payable by employers and employees in respect of the various branches of social security in all the member states, including Ireland. A copy of this publication is available in the Oireachtas Library.