Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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237. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she or the Minister of State have received the report from the Low Pay Commission following their review of the rates for board and lodgings applicable to au pairs here; when she expects decisions to be made following receipt of the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26351/17]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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In September last, I asked the Low Pay Commission as part of their 2017 Work Programme, to review the board and lodgings rates that are provided for under the national minimum wage legislation.

The Low Pay Commission examined the board and lodgings 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.

The closing date for submissions to the Low Pay Commission Review was 10 January last.  The Commission considered the submissions received and examined all the available evidence.

The Commission submitted its report to me on 5 May and I am currently considering its contents.