Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

332. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider introducing a scheme whereby self-employed tradesmen would be entitled to a payment for weeks they cannot work (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31992/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Self-employed persons, including self-employed tradesmen, who earn €5,000 or more in a contribution year, are liable for PRSI at the Class S rate of 4%, subject to a minimum annual payment of €500. This provides them with access to the following benefits: State pension (contributory) and Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Pension (contributory), Guardian's Payment (contributory), Maternity Benefit and Adoptive Benefit and, since September 2016, the newly introduced Paternity Benefit.

Class A employees, who have access to the full range of benefits, pay PRSI at the rate of 4% on their income. In addition their employers pay PRSI at 10.75%, which bring the rate of PRSI paid in respect of Class A employees to 14.75% (12.5% for weekly earnings of €376 or less)

Self-employed workers with insufficient means can access means tested payments such as unemployment assistance or disability allowance, in respect of periods when cannot work because of a downturn in their business or ill health.

Core to the Programme for Government focusing on improving the position of the self-employed, is the commitment to introduce an improved PRSI scheme for the self-employed.

In Budget 2017, I announced the extension of cover for Invalidity Pension to the self-employed on the same basis as employees, with effect from December 2017. Gaining access to Invalidity Pension will provide the self-employed with a much stronger safety net to protect them in the event of significant injury or disablement.

In addition the self-employed will have access to the Treatment Benefit Scheme which provides partial dental, optical and aural services to qualified people, from March 2017. Treatment Benefit entitlements will be extended further from October 2017 for the self-employment and employees, providing additional dental and optical benefits.

In 2017 my department will carry out detailed work on the jobseeker's benefit scheme to establish how to provide a better safety net for self-employed workers whose business fails, which can be considered in Budget 2018.