asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the situation whereby people working fewer than 18 hours a week are exempt from all benefits except hospital expenditures under the PRSI arrangement, if he has satisfied himself that the category of workers known as house helpers or house cleaners, who previously benefited from having their social welfare stamps paid by a variety of employers, are now at risk of losing all benefits under the extended system and the proposals, if any, he has to rectify this situation.

13.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the proposals, if any, he has to enable part-time workers, such as teachers, cleaners, waitresses who work fewer than 18 hours a week, to opt into the social welfare code on a contributory basis to enable them to benefit from the contributory pension and disability benefit schemes.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 13 together.

Prior to 6 April 1979, all part-time employees who were employed for the purposes of an employer's trade or business were insurable for all benefits under the Social Welfare Acts, irrespective of the duration of the employment or of the amount of the remuneration. In addition, persons such as private domestic workers who were employed otherwise than for the purposes of the employer's trade or business were insurable for all benefits if they worked for a total of 18 hours or more in the week for one or more employers or, if working for a total of less than 18 hours in the week, were mainly dependent for livelihood on the earnings from such employment or employments. All other part-time employees were insured for occupational injury benefits and under the Health Acts.

As from 6 April 1979, the date of the introduction of the PRSI contribution scheme, the position is that irrespective of the nature of the employment any person who works for 18 or more hours in the week in one or more employments, continues to be insured for all benefits under the Social Welfare Acts. Where the total number of hours worked is less than 18 hours in the week, the employee continues to be insured for all benefits if he or she is mainly dependent for livelihood on the earnings from such employment or employments. Any person who works for a total of less than 18 hours in the week and who is not so dependent continues to be insured for occupational injury benefit and under the Health Acts.

Any employee, part-time or otherwise, who has already been compulsorily insured for benefits which include contributory old age, retirement and widow's pensions may, subject to prescribed conditions, preserve their rights to these benefits by payment of contributions on a voluntary basis. There is no provision under the Social Welfare Acts which permits payment of voluntary contributions to establish title to disability benefit.