Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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241. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons who are paid below the national minimum wage of €9.25 due to the exceptions for an employee in the first year after the date of first employment over 18 years of age and the second year after the date of first employment over 18 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48553/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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According to the latest data available from the Central Statistics Office an average of 22,500 people are paid below the National Minimum Wage. Of these, 5,800 (0.3% of all employees) report being paid below the minimum wage, due to being on an age-related rate. In terms of employees being paid less than the National Minimum Wage due to being in a first job over the age of 18 the numbers in this category returned in the CSO QNHS were too small for an accurate figure to be drawn.

The Low Pay Commission has been asked to examine the appropriateness of the current sub-minima rates of the National Minimum Wage. I expect to receive the Commission’s report and recommendations on what changes, if any, should be made to the rates, before the end of the year.