At the end of August, the latest month for which full expenditure data are available, overall voted expenditure for my Department was some €50 million below profile. The most significant element of this under-spending was on unemployment and related services, €36 million, carer's allowance, €10 million, free schemes, €8 million, family income supplement, €6 million, and old age non-contributory pensions, €4 million. This under-spending arose because demands under the schemes were less than expected. There was also some over-spending, the most significant of which was on supplementary welfare allowances, €18 million, and child benefit, €7 million.
In relation to the social insurance fund, at the end of August, expenditure was some €48 million higher than profile. The most significant elements of this over-spending were on old age contributory pension, €36 million, unemployment benefit, €8 million, and disability benefit, €4 million. This over-spending arose because demands under the schemes were greater than expected.