The amount received by my Department in respect of health contributions for each year since 1997 is set out in the following table.
Year
|
€ million
|
1997
|
290.623
|
1998
|
360.620
|
1999
|
539.051
|
2000
|
679.592
|
2001
|
723.395
|
2002
|
751.273
|
2003
|
855.938
|
2004 to date
|
635.479.
|
The 2004 estimated receipt from health contributions, as published in the 2004 revised Estimates volume, is €897.005 million. Health contributions are paid to my Department by the Department of Social and Family Affairs in respect of employees and by the Revenue Commissioners in respect of the self-employed. A total of €261.526 million, or 29% of the original Estimate, is required from these sources by year end to meet the original estimated figure. A projection to year end, based on receipts to date, would indicate a possible surplus on the original published Estimate, should the trends to date continue.