I propose to take Questions Nos. 85, 108 and 110 together.
The Comprehensive Expenditure Report published last December provides for additional new expenditure reduction measures of €1,033 million over the next two years by the Department of Social Protection. This includes €540 million of new savings to be achieved in Budget 2013.
The CER also stated that the Department would look at three broad areas, namely children and families, people of working age and retired and older people to identify further indicative savings. This does not imply that expenditure in any given area will reduced or by how much.
I recognise that reducing overall expenditure in 2013 and beyond in order to meet the expenditure ceilings will be extremely difficult and requires a critical analysis of all expenditure. In this context, I will look to minimise the impact of the necessary adjustments to the Department’s welfare expenditure on groups vulnerable to poverty and social exclusion. As part of the Budgetary deliberative process, the Department will analyse, in so far as possible, the distributive and poverty impact of possible welfare changes to all welfare recipients including different family types including those with children and male/female poverty impacts. Finally, the Department will prepare a similar analysis of the overall Budget 2013 tax and welfare packages when they are finalised.