I propose to take Questions Nos. 1536 and 1538 together.
The following table provides the budget provided for in the relevant Revised Estimates Volumes (REV) for the Department of Social Protection in each of the years 2013 to 2016 and to date in 2017:
Year
|
2013
|
2014
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017 year to end June
|
REV (Gross Vote 37* and Social Insurance Fund expenditure)
|
€20,243m
|
€19,603m
|
€19,378m
|
€19,625m
|
€9,940m (profile)
|
Outturn
|
€20,228m
|
€19,763m
|
€19,905m
|
€19,801m
|
€9,873
|
Note: * Excludes the Exchequer subvention to the Social Insurance Fund.
A Supplementary Estimate was voted by the Dáil in both 2015 and 2016 in order to provide for the higher out-turns in those years while the higher out-turn in 2014 was funded from a lower expected Exchequer subvention to the Social Insurance Fund due to higher than expected PRSI receipts.
The Christmas Bonus was partially restored in 2014 (25% bonus) and this was increased in both 2015 (75% bonus) and 2016 (85% bonus). The estimated cost of the Christmas Bonus for each year was; €65m in 2014, €198m in 2015 and €220m in 2016 and these sums were not provided for in the REV for the years in question.