Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I know this area is not under the Minister of State's remit. I fully understand that. However, we had the same problem with people working in RTÉ who were treated as self-employed. When that was reviewed, it turned out many of them had to be treated as employees. The issue has also changed because of the Supreme Court decision. It is like the people working for the pizza delivery company. It could technically be said those delivery people were employed by the people who wanted pizza delivered to their house rather than by the person producing the pizza. The Supreme Court has decided they are to be treated as employees.

Even if I do not resolve the issue of whether they are employees or subcontractors, the other issue concerns class S, which they come under for tax purposes. It is a huge disadvantage for them in relation to planning pension, in relation to other employment they may want to take on during the holiday periods and in relation to the fact they are not entitled to get any support when they are not working during the summer, Christmas and Easter periods. That needs to be reviewed. They provide a valuable service for children who have difficulties in attending school, and for their parents. Taking into account the Supreme Court decision, how do we continue to attract people into the area who can provide the service and deliver a good education to people who otherwise who drop out of the system?

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