Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 84: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the way he intends reforming the rules for back to education allowance to enable applicants to qualify irrespective of whether or not they have a primary degree. [27994/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The back to education scheme covers courses of education from second level to higher diploma level in any discipline [level 8 in the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ)] and to a Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary and Secondary Teaching; level 9 in NFQ). BTEA will not be approved if a person holds a qualification equivalent or higher than the qualification for which the application has been received.

The potential for further changes in certain areas was identified by my predecessor to the Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs. These concerned duration, access to post-graduate courses, appropriateness of courses and progression. The final shape and scope of such changes are currently being finalised for the 2010/2011 academic year.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 86: To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans, if any, to reform the PRSI rates applicable and the possible benefits accruing to the self employed. [27997/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Self-employed people pay PRSI Class S contributions which provides cover for long-term benefits such as State pension (contributory) and widows/widowers pension (contributory). Employees are covered by PRSI classes A, E, H and P, which provide cover for the above benefits as well as for short-term contingencies such as jobseeker's and illness benefits.

PRSI coverage is related to the risks associated with employment or self-employment, the annualised system of contributions for self-employed people and the practicalities of administering and controlling access to short-term payments. Self-employed people pay Class S contributions at a rate of 3% per annum as compared to the 14.75% full Class A contributions paid by employees and their employers, to reflect the narrower range of benefits they receive. A system of separate arrangements for employed and self-employed workers within a social insurance context is common in other European social protection systems.

A self-employed person who has paid insufficient Class A contributions may instead qualify for jobseeker's allowance. Jobseeker's allowance is a means-tested payment and, in assessing a person's means, account is taken of all income which the person may reasonably expect to receive during the succeeding year. In general, their means will take account of the level of earnings in the last twelve months in determining their expected income for the following year. In the current climate account is taken of the downward trend in the economy and it is accepted that future earnings may be lower than those of previous years.

The process also recognises the potential for significant upward or downward variations in income from one year to the next.

There are no plans to extend cover for short-term benefits to this group of insured workers. Any such measure would have significant financial implications and would have to be considered within a budgetary context. Consideration would also have to be given to an appropriate increase in the rate of the PRSI Class S contribution.

Question No. 87 withdrawn.