The abridged Estimates for social welfare provide a total spend of €11.42 billion in 2005. These improvements do not take account of improvements to be announced in the forthcoming budget 2005. These Estimates provide the framework within which spending priorities for the Government are allocated in advance the budget. In relation to social insurance, the 2005 Estimate assumes an increase in the employee PRSI ceiling for 2005 by €2,020 to €44,180 and a footnote to this effect is included in the Estimates publication.
An annual review of this ceiling is provided for under the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 1993. The legislation provides that the Minister shall take into account changes in average earnings of workers in the transportable goods industries since the previous review, as recorded by the Central Statistics Office. Changes in rates of social insurance contributions or the health levy were not announced as part of Estimates 2005. Where such changes are made, this occurs in the context of the budget.