Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1331.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for an update on the work being done to resolve the problem of bogus self-employment in the building sector; if she will provide an assessment of how the building sector is being impacted; how it is intended to resolve this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32377/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Formed in July 2019 the Employment Status Investigation Unit (ESIU) has inspectors across the country with the aim of being a specialised unit with a focus on detecting, targeting and reducing the issue of misclassification of employment status. They are appointed to carry out this work under Section 250 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act.

They are a ‘centre of excellence’ with expertise in employment status investigations.

ESIU generates whole industry or site-specific investigations including Construction Site Visits.

Misclassified self-employment is sometimes referred to as bogus self-employment or false self-employment. ESIU does not use either of these terms.

Employment can be misclassified for several reasons, ESIU does not presume wrongdoing by either party. Their job is to investigate the facts and report back to Scope Section for a formal decision to be made.

Since its inception ESIU has investigated a substantial number of construction businesses.

Initially there was some misclassification identified in a very small number of the businesses investigated, but nothing of significance that would indicate a problem misclassification of employment status in the building industry in particular.

The Employment Status Investigation Unit (ESIU) inspectors continue to inspect and monitor a range of sectors including construction.

I hope that answers the Deputies question.