Patrick Nulty
Question:334. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Social Protection if existing rates of child benefit will be maintained in Budget 2013. [42855/12]
View answerTuesday, 9 October 2012
Questions (334)
Written answers
The appropriate level of expenditure on child benefit in 2013 has not been decided but will be considered in the context of the forthcoming Budget.
In the meantime, the Deputy may wish to note that the Revised Estimates for my Department provide for expenditure of nearly €2.08 billion on child benefit in 2012 or 10.1% of total expenditure. The Comprehensive Expenditure Report, 2012 – 2014, published last December, provides for additional new expenditure reduction measures of €1,033 million over the next two years in the Department of Social Protection’s budget. This includes €540 million of new savings to be achieved in Budget 2013. Reducing overall expenditure in 2013 and beyond in line with these targets will be very challenging. When the Government reaches its decisions on these matters, full regard will be had to the importance of the role Child Benefit plays within the overall system of social protection.