Catherine Callaghan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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166. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost of extending illness benefit to the self-employed; the estimated increase in PRSI rates that would be required to meet this cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32947/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Self-employed contributors pay class S PRSI at a rate of 4.1%. This is 11.15 percentage points lower than the combined employer and employee contribution of 15.25% made in respect of employed contributors. However, self-employed contributors do have access to over 90% of benefits available to employed contributors.

The Programme for Government includes an action to explore the option of giving self-employed workers access to illness benefit by means of making a higher PRSI contribution. My Department has commenced work in this regard. This work includes analysis and assessments of potential costings and the appropriate PRSI rates required in those contexts.

Any changes to the current system would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.