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Departmental Estimates.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 December 2004

Wednesday, 15 December 2004

Questions (32)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

37 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the provisions in the Book of Estimates for his Department for 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33441/04]

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Written answers

The 2005 pre-budget provisions for my Department are set out in the 2005 Abridged Estimates Volume. This volume was presented to the House and published on 18 November. The total provision for social welfare spending in the 2005 Abridged Estimates Volume is €11.42 billion. This is before the inclusion of the 2005 budget improvements and reflects the significant year on year increases that have been delivered by this Government.

In budget 2005, provision was made for additional social welfare expenditure of €834.15 million in 2005. This provision will be added to the pre-budget provisions for my Department in the 2005 Revised Estimates Volume. This volume will be presented to the House and published early in the new year.

The total post-budget provision for social welfare spending in 2005 is €12.25 billion. This is the largest allocation ever and is more than double the amount spent in 1997.

The total 2005 post-budget provision is €1 billion, or 8.8%, higher than social welfare related spending in the current year. This is due mainly to the significant increases in weekly rates and the other improvements in social welfare arrangements announced in the recent budget. The increases in weekly rates, for instance, are more than three times the expected rate of inflation in 2005.

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