Robert Troy
Ceist:155. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to review procedures on the way priests were prohibited from paying a contribution before 1988 (details supplied). [19070/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 13 April 2017
Ceisteanna (155)
Freagraí scríofa
In general, workers in insurable employment or self-employment and whose income from that employment exceeds the relevant insurable threshold, are liable to pay PRSI. The payment of PRSI entitles them to access a range of social insurance benefits including the contributory State pension, depending on the nature of their employment or self- employment. Similar to other people, priests in employment, are liable to pay PRSI and can subsequently access social insurance benefits depending on the nature of the employment or self-employment in which they are engaged.
Social insurance coverage was introduced for self-employed workers for the first time in 1988, to provide access to long-term benefits such as the contributory State pension. Self-employed workers, including self-employed clergy, were not covered for any pensions or benefits prior to that year and did not pay PRSI contributions.
There are no plans to review the position of people who did not pay contributions in the past.
Clergy who were employed prior or subsequent to 1988 were liable to pay PRSI based on their earnings and their appropriate PRSI Class. It should be noted priests who were employed in some public service occupations (e.g. teachers) and who were appointed prior to April, 1995 paid PRSI at reduced rates of contributions and are covered for a limited range of benefits and pensions. In particular such contributors are not covered for the contributory State pension contributory. However like other public servants they would, in general, have access to the appropriate occupational pension schemes.
Where any person, including a member of the clergy, is unable to meet the qualifying conditions for the contributory State pension or is only eligible for a reduced rate of contributory pension, they may alternatively apply for the means-tested State pension. The level of payment for the means tested State pension (amounts to up to 95% of the maximum contributory pension rate.