Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I accept it is impossible to be accurate, but it is also the case that EU fiscal policy forces Departments to take a conservative view in the other direction. They overestimate rather than underestimate because of the way the Estimates process now works. It does not stack up that the Department of Social Protection underestimated from a conservative perspective because that would be an irresponsible approach to fiscal management. Until flexibility was brought in under EU fiscal policy, it was not possible to get a Supplementary Estimate. That does not wash. Is Mr. Duggan saying that the main reason for the significant difference is the additional budgetary changes to entitlements that have taken place? Is it the case that since the actual cost of the State contributory pension did not increase, Mr. Duggan is including in this figure other additional costs, such as fuel allowance and other supplementary benefits? Is that where this figure is coming from?