Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 173: To ask the Taoiseach the number and the proportion of the total that workers were paid at the minimum wage, no more than 5% above the minimum wage, no more than 10% above the minimum wage and no more than 20% above the minimum wage in 2009 and at the end of 2006, 2007 and 2008. [38251/09]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The information sought by the Deputy is contained in the National Employment Survey (NES), an annual workplace survey published by the Central Statistics Office. The most recent NES was published in July 2009 and uses data collected for October 2007 as its reference point. The previous NES had October 2006 as its reference period.

The National Minimum Wage (NMW) rate in operation in October 2006 was €7.65 per hour. An estimated 63,700 employees were paid that amount or less, equivalent to 3.8% of all employees. There were an estimated 101,200 employees (6% of all employees) paid less than or equal to €8.03 per hour, which is 5% above the minimum wage. 135,400 employees or 8% of all employees were paid less than or equal to €8.42 per hour, which is 10% above the minimum wage. Finally, 228,500 employees, equivalent to 13.5% of all employees, were paid less than or equal to €9.18 per hour, which is 20% above the minimum wage rate.

The NMW rate in operation in October 2007 was €8.65 per hour. An estimated 86,400 employees were paid that amount or less, equivalent to 5% of all employees. There were an estimated 148,500 employees (8.6% of all employees) paid less than or equal to €9.08 per hour, which is 5% above the minimum wage. 193,400 employees or 11.2% of all employees were paid less than or equal to €9.52 per hour, which is 10% above the minimum wage. Finally, 287,800 employees, equivalent to 16.7% of all employees, were paid less than or equal to €10.38 per hour, which is 20% above the minimum wage rate.