Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The extension of the class S contribution to allow for invalidity pension is a welcome development for self-employed people. A greater issue than the cost and value for money is the fact of having a safety net if one is self-employed. Many are forced to be self-employed and do not choose it. To have the safety net of an entitlement to jobseeker’s benefit would be of great benefit to them and would encourage people to take up self-employment. Self-employed people would be less likely to become unemployed and would be less of a drain on the State.

While the Department of Social Protection has moved to ease the burden for self-employed people to get jobseeker’s allowance, having an entitlement to jobseeker’s benefit would encourage them to become self-employed. That should be examined. The Minister says that people entitled to invalidity pension and unemployment assistance would also be entitled to a disability allowance, which is a continuous payment. I do not see why she can extend some payments and not others.

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