Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

182. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the Low Pay Commission has reported to the Minister of State on reviewing the board and lodgings rates for au pairs; when she will make a decision on this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28246/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The position is that last September, the then Minister for Employment and Small Business, Pat Breen T.D. 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 the 10th of January last. The Commission considered the submissions received and examined all the available evidence.

The Commission submitted its report to Minister Breen on 5th May. I am currently considering the content of the report and will present it to Cabinet in the coming weeks.  It will then be published on the Low Pay Commissions website.