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

We will get it over a period of a number of years so we get a picture of what is happening with it. It is an issue. While the sums involved are small in the overall budget of the Department, even with compound interest, by 2070 a very small change here could have a significant impact on what is in the Social Insurance Fund as we hit some of the big demands in relation to pension claims from 2050 on into 2070. It is important these are looked at and now is the time to look at them and not when they are going to cause a problem down the road.

I thank the Minister’s officials for engaging with us on this issue and for the work put into the Estimate before us. I also thank the officials on the ground and in the various offices around the country for their ongoing engagement with Members of the Oireachtas and with this particular committee.

Is there any outstanding question on the Vote? As there is not, I thank the Minister for giving us the opportunity to engage with her on this.

We will suspend the meeting for five minutes before the committee considers the Revised Estimates with the Minister for Rural and Community Development.