Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

140. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of instances of bogus self-employment referred to his Department in each of the years from 2011 to 2016. [6484/17]

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

My Department is responsible for making statutory decisions on insurability of employment under the Social Welfare Act. In this regard, employers, employees and the self-employed may apply, where there is doubt, to have an employment or self-employment status investigated and the correct class of pay-related social insurance (PRSI) determined.

Scope decisions are based on all of the available evidence, including a detailed report from a Social Welfare Inspector, where appropriate, and legal principles handed down in various court judgements over the years, some of which are outlined in the Code of Practice for determining Employment or Self-Employment of Individuals.

In 2015, a total of 1,061 Scope decisions were made. These fell into three broad categories: working directors, family employment and others.

The Department does not collate statistics relating to instances of bogus self-employment.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.