Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton. We are meeting this afternoon to consider the Revised Estimates for Public Services at the Department of Social Protection, Vote 37. As Members will have seen the 2013 Revised Estimate was presented to the Dáil in a new programme-based format. This means that the Estimate, as presented, contains the following information for each programme: how the money allocated to the programme is proposed to be spent and the previous year's outturn in each case; the number of staff assigned to work in connection with the programme and how that compares with the previous year; and performance-related information, which is departmental outputs with the corresponding information for previous years and what are termed performance and impact indicators with the previous year's information also.

Administrative expenditure for the Vote as a whole is summarised in more detail than previously. The Revised Estimate gives us an opportunity to review whether the target set out and the distribution of money across the Vote are appropriate in all the circumstances and demonstrate the best use of resources. It also gives us an opportunity to explore the issues facing the Minister in terms of the 2014 allocation for her Department.

The timetable for today's meeting has been circulated and agreed. It allows for a brief opening statement by the Minister and then a discussion of each programme involving questions from members.

The Minister is accompanied by Ms Niamh O'Donoghue, Secretary General, Mr. John Conlon, assistant secretary, Mr. Denis Moynihan, principal officer, Mr. Tony Crean, assistant principal, Mr. Vincent Kennedy, assistant principal, and Ms Clare Conway, assistant principal. I invite the Minister to make her opening remarks. We would like her to remain within the allotted five minutes. I will inform her when the five minutes is up so that she can begin to conclude.