Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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Question 245: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to establish regulations of the au pair industry here in order that the rights and entitlements of au pairs are established and protected along with establishing standards for the industry that is rapidly growing as a financial entity. [34579/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Typically an "au pair" is a young person who chooses to help look after the children of a host family and carry out light housekeeping duties. The au pair is usually given room and board and is typically paid weekly "pocket-money" and gains experience of a new culture while also improving his or her foreign language skills. There is no specific regulatory framework covering "au pairs" in place in Ireland. It is my understanding that an au pair arrangement is essentially a private arrangement between the parties concerned - a private household or sponsor family and a private individual – and voluntary, on the basis of a shared understanding. Although circumstances can differ from case to case, an "au pair" is assumed not be an employee because there is no contract of employment between the householder and the person in question. If a contract of employment does exist then this places the arrangement on a different footing. In general, where people have concerns that workers may be exploited or receiving less than their statutory entitlement the matter should be reported to National Employment Rights Authority for investigation.

I have no plans to introduce additional legislation specifically to regulate arrangements in relation to "au pairs" in Ireland.