Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 4 Jul 1990

Vol. 401 No. 1

Written Answers. - Part-time Workers Eligibility for Benefit.

Emmet Stagg

Ceist:

24 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the anomalous situation arising where persons working part-time and signing on for the remainder of the week do not receive a credit or contribution which would give them cover for disability and unemployment benefit.

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods)

Part-time workers who are employed for less than 18 hours per week and who are not mainly dependent on their earnings from that employment are insurable at a reduced rate of PRSI contribution which gives cover for occupational injuries only. Under present arrangements, a credited contribution is awarded to an unemployed person only where he or she proves unemployment for a full contribution week.

My Department is currently reviewing the position of part-time workersvis-à-vis social insurance coverage to see how such workers might best be catered for within the system, while ensuring a reasonable relationship between contributions paid and benefit entitlements. The issue raised by the Deputy is being considered in that context.

The National Pensions Board have also been specifically asked to examine the question of pension entitlements of part-time workers. The board is expected to address this issue in detail in its final report, to be published before the end of the year. The board's recommendations in this regard will be taken into account in preparing proposals for extending the coverage of part-time workers within the system.