Marie Moloney (Labour)

I was delighted to hear the Minister say she is examining how to help the self-employed. Self-employed people are hard workers who provide an income for themselves, their families and their employees. They are staying off the live register. However, they pay a reduced amount of PRSI which means they are not entitled to illness benefit or jobseeker's benefit if they get sick or have no work. I suggest that they be given the option of paying the full amount of PRSI and if they decide to pay the reduced amount they must accept that they will not have entitlement to benefit when they get sick. However, if they choose to pay the full amount, they will have that entitlement. Why not give them that option? There are approximately 270,000 self-employed people in Ireland at present. The increased amount of PRSI could generate a large amount of income for the Exchequer as well. If self-employed people were given that choice, I am sure most of them would take it up. It is like an insurance policy.

Rent supplement is now under the auspices of the Department of Social Protection. My colleague will speak in more detail on that shortly, but I wish to make a brief point. It has come to my attention that the rent allowance is being paid directly to the tenant and in some cases it is not making its way to the landlord. The tenants then find themselves in arrears and facing eviction. It would make more sense if the rent allowance was paid directly to the landlord, with the tenant making up the balance of what they owe. Perhaps the Minister will think about this and consider changing it.

Will the Minister give us an update on the progress being made with the social services card? When is it likely to be in use? Will it contain a photograph or, as was suggested by a Senator on one occasion, a fingerprint?