S.I. No. 107/1996:

SOCIAL WELFARE (MODIFICATIONS OF INSURANCE) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1996

SOCIAL WELFARE (MODIFICATIONS OF INSURANCE) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1996

The Minister for Social Welfare, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by sections 4 and 11 (as amended by section 12 of the Social Welfare Act, 1996 (No. 7 of 1996)) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993 (No. 27 of 1993), hereby makes the following Regulations:

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Social Welfare (Modifications of Insurance) (Amendment) Regulations, 1996.

(2) These Regulations and the Social Welfare (Modifications of Insurance) Regulations, 1991 to 1995 shall be construed together as one and may be cited together as the Social Welfare (Modifications of Insurance) Regulations, 1991 to 1996.

2. In these Regulations--

"the Principal Regulations" means the Social Welfare (Modifications of Insurance) Regulations, 1991 ( S.I. No. 94 of 1991 ); and

"the Regulations of 1995" means the Social Welfare (Modifications of Insurance) (Amendment) Regulations, 1995 ( S.I. No. 77 of 1995 ).

3. These Regulations shall come into operation on the 6th day of April, 1996.

4. Articles 5 (2) (a) (i), 6 (2) (a) (i) and 7 (2) (a) (i) (as substituted by article 4 of the Regulations of 1995) of the Principal Regulations are hereby amended by the substitution in each of the said articles of "£20" for "£10".

5. Article 9 (2) (a) (i) (as substituted by article 5 of the Regulations of 1995) of the Principal Regulations is hereby amended by the substitution of "£80" for "£50".

6. Article 10(2) (a) (i) (as substituted by article 6 of the Regulations of 1995) of the Principal Regulations is hereby amended by the substitution of "£80" for "£50".

7. Article 11 (1) (a) of the Principal Regulations is hereby amended by the substitution for subparagraph (iv) of the following subparagraph:

"(iv) Employment, which commences before the 6th day of April, 1996, under a scheme administered by An Foras Áiseanna Saothair and known as Community Employment, where the person employed therein does not elect, under paragraph 12 (b) (inserted by section 12 of the Social Welfare Act, 1996 ) of the First Schedule to the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993 , to be an employed contributor within the meaning of section 9(1) (a) of the said Act,".

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for Social Welfare

this 4th day of April, 1996.

PROINSIAS DE ROSSA

Minister for Social Welfare.

The Minister for Finance hereby consents to the making of the foregoing Regulations.

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for Finance

this 4th day of April, 1996.

RUAIRI QUINN

Minister for Finance

EXPLANATORY NOTE

These Regulations provide for an increase from £10 to £20 in the weekly earnings threshold below which Civil Servants and Members of the Garda Síochána (Class B); Commissioned Army Officers and Members of the Army Nursing Service (Class C) and permanent and pensionable public servants, teachers, doctors and nurses employed by the Health Boards etc. (Class D) are not liable for PRSI contributions.

In addition the Regulations also provide for an increase from £50 to £80 in the exemption applied in the case of Church of Ireland Ministers (Class E) and Non-Commissioned Army Officers and enlisted personnel of the Defence Forces (Class H).

The Regulations also provide for the continued payment of the reduced rate PRSI contribution which provides for Occupational Injuries Benefits only, in the case of persons employed in Community Employment where the employment commenced before 6 April, 1996 and where the employed person has not elected to become an employed contributor for the purpose of paying full-rate PRSI.