Vol. 556 No. 2
18 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the way in which the spending incurred by her Department to date compares with the amounts allocated in the Book of Estimates; if she expects her Department to come in on target, in regard to expenditure; if she anticipates cutbacks or adjustments in her Department; the areas in which these will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19495/02]
At the end of August, the latest month for which full expenditure data are available, overall voted expenditure for my Department was some €50 million below profile. The most significant element of this under-spending was on unemployment and related services, €36 million, carer's allowance, €10 million, free schemes, €8 million, family income supplement, €6 million, and old age non-contributory pensions, €4 million. This under-spending arose because demands under the schemes were less than expected. There was also some over-spending, the most significant of which was on supplementary welfare allowances, €18 million, and child benefit, €7 million.
In relation to the social insurance fund, at the end of August, expenditure was some €48 million higher than profile. The most significant elements of this over-spending were on old age contributory pension, €36 million, unemployment benefit, €8 million, and disability benefit, €4 million. This over-spending arose because demands under the schemes were greater than expected.
