Vol. 419 No. 2
17 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will outline the additional resources, if any, he expects will be necessary this year for unemployment-related spending by his Department in view of the fact that average levels of unemployment are likely to considerably exceed official estimates at the start of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The projected live register underlying the 1992 budget allocation is 272,000. On this basis, the amount provided for unemployment-related payments in 1992 is £927 million (which includes £44 million for payments to smallholders).
As the Deputy may be aware the live register has been revised upwards to 280,000. This is the latest projection for the average number on the live register for the year as a whole. The emerging trends are, however, being carefully monitored and the average will be adjusted as appropriate.
It is estimated that the additional cost, in 1992, from an increase of 8,000 in the live register will be in the region of £26 million — this represents a cost of £3.25 million per annum for each 1,000 on the live register. I cannot, however, indicate at this stage what the final requirement for unemployment-related payments will be. The position in this regard will be re-assessed later in the year when there is a clearer picture of trends in the live register.
