Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 2 Dec 2003

Vol. 576 No. 1

Written Answers. - Departmental Estimates.

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

107 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the way in which the 2% increase in appropriations-in-aid provided for in her Department's estimate for 2004 will be achieved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28947/03]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan)

The 2004 Abridged, or pre-budget, Estimate for appropriations-in-aid in my Department's Estimate for 2004 is €133.51 million. This sum is provided for in subhead V which is the receipts subhead of my Department's Vote in 2004. The most significant receipts under this heading are the recovery from the social insurance fund of that portion of the Department's administration costs which is attributable to social insurance schemes. The balance arises mainly from the recovery of overpayments and repayments from the social insurance fund of amounts paid initially as social assistance.

The increase of 2% in appropriations-in-aid provided for in my Department's Estimate for 2004 is expected to arise almost entirely on the provisions for recovery of overpayments and repayments from the social insurance fund of amounts paid initially as social assistance. The increases in these provisions reflect the fact that receipts under the corresponding headings in 2003 are emerging at a higher level than had been expected. No change has been made to the criteria which determine the level of these receipts in 2004.

Question No. 108 answered with Question No. 89.

Question No. 109 answered with Question No. 63.