Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 May 2014
365. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of the underspend by her Department for 2013; the amount returned to the Exchequer; and the amount that was re-allocated and to which other Departments. [21127/14]
View answer366. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of the underspend by her Department against its projected spending this year to date; if it has been allocated to other Departments; and if so the amount and to which Departments. [21128/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 365 and 366 together.
The overall expenditure of the Department of Social Protection in 2013 was just under €20,237.5 million (provisional out-turn) or €6 million less than provided for in the Revised Estimates Volume for 2013. PRSI income in 2013 was €7,303m (provisional out-turn) or €203 million ahead of profile.
The Budget Day Estimates published last October provided for expenditure of €19,649.5 million in 2014. This subsequently reduced to €19,603.5 million in the Revised Estimates Volume for 2014. The allocation of monies generally to other Votes is a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
Overall expenditure to end of April 2014 is €6,548 million. This is €9 million ahead of profile. It should, however, be noted that expenditure to end April includes €40 million of expenditure on payments to welfare recipients which was brought forward which from May 1 to April 30. This initiative was taken in order to ensure that there was no delay in the payment of certain welfare payments arising from the closure of the European Clearing and Settlement System (TARGET2) on the May Bank Holiday (in certain EU countries) on 1st May 2014. There have been no changes to the allocation for 2014 since the publication of the Revised Estimates Volume.
