Ms Jackie Harrington:

We have been working closely with the Department of public expenditure and the CSO on our figures. It is important to note that these payments, the higher rates of payments in particular, can support the economy by providing a stabiliser. This was evident after the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, scenario where the country bounced back quite quickly and where Ireland did not see the high levels of unemployment and difficulties that may have been anticipated. We are working closely with these bodies on our figures and costings and we have stress-tested a number of different scenarios. The Department is confident that the 0.2 percentage points that we are providing for in the increased PRSI rate will support us over the period.