Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the provision which he has made in Estimates 2006 for increase in the ceiling for social insurance payments, the threshold before social insurance is paid and the limit for exemption from payment of social insurance; and the values which will apply in 2006 in respect of these items. [35983/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The employee PRSI ceiling is reviewed annually in accordance with the legislative stipulations of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 1993. The legislation requires the Minister to take into account any changes in the average earnings of workers in the transportable good industries as recorded by the Central Statistics Office.

The 2006 Abridged Estimates assumes an increase in the employee PRSI ceiling from the current €44,180 figure to €46,600 per annum. The 2006 Abridged Estimates assumes no increase in the PRSI thresholds or exemption limits. The question of changes to PRSI exemptions, thresholds and the ceiling are considered in a budgetary context. Any such changes would be announced in the forthcoming budget.