Vol. 567 No. 1
129 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the likely Supplementary Estimate that will be required by her Department if independent projections of unemployment levels reaching 200,000 people are reached in 2003. [13506/03]
The 2003 Estimates for unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance were framed on the basis of an average live register of 179,000. This average took account of a seasonal pattern where increases and decreases occur at various times throughout the year. The actual live register at the end of April, at 170,940, was 5,760 lower than the comparable figure underlying the estimate. Therefore, the indications at this stage are that the estimate for the year will not be exceeded. If the live register were to reach 200,000 in 2003, an excess in the region of €45 million would emerge on the unemployment estimates.
