At the end of May last, total Net Vote 37 expenditure for the Department of Social Protection was underspent by €147.6 million (3.1%) relative to profile. The underspend arises as a result of a lower requirement (€189.64 m) for an Exchequer Subvention to the Social Insurance Fund, higher (€7.91 m) than profiled Appropriations in Aid with both offset by higher than profiled expenditure (€50m) on Vote 37 schemes, services and administration. The lower than expected Exchequer Subvention is due to higher than expected PRSI receipts (€200.5 million).
Overall expenditure on all schemes, services and administration operated by Vote 37 and the Social Insurance Fund was ahead of profile at end May by €49 million (0.6%). While expenditure on the schemes, services operated by the Social Insurance Fund (and associated administration costs) was just below target, similar expenditure on Vote 37 was just short of €50 million ahead of profile. The principal reason for this overspend relates to expenditure on jobseeker’s allowance (€33.5 million ahead of profile) and carer’s allowance (€12 million ahead of profile).