Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Every year since the crisis, expenditure on social protection has decreased. At this stage, it is estimated that €220 million will not be spent this year. Every year recently, quite a substantial amount of money estimated for the Department has not been spent. It goes back to the Department or into the social fund. Up to this year, the social fund has been substantially overdrawn. This year, however, the Estimate figure is €180 million. There is a saving, or bonus, of €220 million. It is not so much that there is a bonus but that the performance of the Department, perhaps because of increasing employment and everything else, is such that it will end up with an extra €200 million. Usually, it transfers back to the Exchequer.