2077. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of reducing employer PRSI to 8% on the first €36,000 of each employee’s wages from January 2027, moving to 7% in 2028 and 5% by 2029, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62891/26]

2120. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated first-year and full-year cost to the Exchequer of reducing the employer rate of PRSI to 8% on the first €36,000 of each employee's earnings; the further estimated cost of reducing that rate to 5% by 2029; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63733/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2077 and 2120 together.

My Department understands that this proposal suggests that all employees first €36,000 (€692 per week) of earnings will be liable for a PRSI charge of initially 8% in 2027 and the excess over this amount (over €692 per week) will be charged the higher employer PRSI rate, currently at 11.25%.

The table below shows the estimated cost of this proposal is as follows:

This estimate does not take into account any possible changes in employer behaviour arising from changing the rate of employer PRSI.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.