Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 352: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the provisions made in Estimates 2007 for the threshold, the exemption limit and the ceiling under social insurance payments; and the basis of the increase made. [39681/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The 2007 Abridged Estimates assumes an increase in the employee PRSI ceiling from the current €46,600 figure to €48,800 per annum — an increase of €2,200. This is an increase of approximately 4.8% and is in line with projected earnings increases. The 2007 Abridged Estimates assume no increase in the PRSI thresholds or exemption limits.

The employee PRSI ceiling is reviewed annually in accordance with the legislative stipulations of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 2005. The legislation requires the Minister to take into account any changes in the average earnings of workers in the transportable goods industries as recorded by the Central Statistics Office.

Any changes to PRSI exemptions and thresholds or further amendments to the ceiling are considered in a budgetary context.