Noel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael)
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1853. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will give due consideration to exceeding the recommended 1% increase in the minimum wage as set out by the Low Pay Commission, in the context of sharp rises in rent and car insurance both of which affect minimum wage workers disproportionately. [24455/16]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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As you will be aware Deputy, the current national minimum hourly rate of pay for an experienced adult worker is €9.15. This rate came into effect on January 1^stlast following Government acceptance of the Low Pay Commission’s first recommendation of July 2015 to increase the rate from €8.65 per hour. As well as accepting the recommendation, the Government adjusted the PRSI system in Budget 2016 to ensure that the benefit of the increase was not lost to the employee and that the effect of the increase to €9.15 per hour on employer’s PRSI liability was mitigated.

The Commission’s second report which was submitted to Cabinet on July 19^threcommends a rate of €9.25 as the national minimum hourly rate. The recommendation and the report is receiving careful consideration.

A decision on the national minimum wage will be made in the context of Budget 2017.