Written answers

Tuesday, 10 July 2012

Department of Social Protection

Statutory Sick Pay Scheme

10:00 pm

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 240: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if any progress has been made in the context of the earlier report this year from the Consultation Seminar - The Feasibility and Implications of Introducing a Scheme of Statutory Sick Pay in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33270/12]

Photo of Eoghan MurphyEoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 247: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if, in view of her proposal to introduce statutory sick pay on employers, if she has carried out a full cost-impact analysis on small businesses if this proposal were to be introduced; and if so what are the results of this. [33356/12]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 240 and 247 together.

The question of introducing a scheme of statutory sick pay, whereby employers would directly meet the costs of sick absence for an initial period of illness is being considered in the context of the need to reform the social welfare system to bring it into line with practices in other countries in this area; the need to address the deficit in the social insurance fund; the need to limit progression from short-term illness to long-term illness or disability; and in the wider context of enhancing the health of the workforce and addressing levels of absenteeism.

In considering the wide range of issues to be addressed before such a scheme could be introduced, a preliminary analysis based on estimates of absenteeism in the private sector has been carried out and this indicates that if a sick pay scheme with a duration of four weeks were to be introduced, it would add about €1 per week per employee to the costs of employment.

The report of the consultative seminar on the feasibility and implications of introducing a scheme of statutory sick pay held in February is now available on the Department's website.

The range of complex issues associated with the introduction of such a scheme continue to be considered and will be discussed in the course of the wider process associated with the preparation of Budget 2013. Any decisions which might be taken by Government on the possible introduction of a statutory sick pay scheme will be considered in that context.

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