Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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670. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress that has been made in reviewing the amount of money allowable for the cost of bed and board which can be deducted from the weekly payment due to au pairs; when she expects the review to be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16020/17]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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In September last, my colleague, Pat Breen TD, Minister for Employment and Small Business, asked the Low Pay Commission to review the board and lodgings rates* that are provided for under the national minimum wage legislation. Minister Breen had indicated during the Dáil debate on the Au Pair Placement Bill 2016 in July 2016 July that he was very conscious of the passage of time since the board and lodgings rates were set in 2000, and he indicated his intention to ask the Low Pay Commission to review these rates as part of their 2017 Work Programme.

The closing date for submissions to the Low Pay Commission Review was the 10th of January last.  The Commission is currently considering the submissions received. It will then examine all the available evidence and prepare its report and recommendations for Minister Breen.

The Low Pay Commission has been requested to report back to Minister Breen by the end of April 2017.

It should be borne in mind, Deputy, that the Review is not a review of the employment status of au pairs. It is confined to only examining the board and lodging rates for all employees that are covered by the national minimum wage legislation.

* Under the National Minimum Wage Act 2000 (National Minimum Hourly Rate of Pay) Order 2000 (SI No. 95/2000) certain reckonable components may be taken into account for all workers to determine an employee’s average hourly rate.  The Act provides for the following amounts: 

€54.13 for board and lodgings per week, or €7.73 per day;

€32.14 for board only per week, or €4.60 per day;

€21.85 for lodgings only per week, or €3.14 per day.

Thus, if an employer provides an employee with full board and lodgings, or lodgings only or full board only, the monetary allowances set out above can be included as reckonable pay.