Richard Bruton
Ceist:226 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the make-up of the extra ?280 million in appropriations-in-aid outlined in the budget. [30166/03]
Written Answers. - Appropriations-in-Aid.
The €280.6 million in question is not technically appropriations-in-aid but relates to additional social insurance fund expenditure, or the SIF element of the budget day social welfare spending package. The Estimates and the budget are presented on the basis of gross expenditure, because it provides a more complete picture of overall Government expenditure. The Exchequer balance is a net figure, however. Accordingly, the appropriations-in-aid figure is increased by the amount of additional spending from the social insurance fund so that there is no impact on net voted spending or the bottom line Exchequer balance position. The gross cost of the social welfare package announced on budget say is €607.9 million. Of this total, some €327.3 million in assistance and grant payments will be funded by the Exchequer through the Vote for the Department of Social and Family Affairs, Vote 38. The €280.6 million cost of increases in insurance and benefit payments is funded from the social insurance fund.