Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I believe so, but I shall have to check. It might be less, but I shall have to check, because I have been reading quite a number of documents in the last while. In any event, the live register figures will be published at 11 a.m., as the Deputy says.

In the Department of the Taoiseach a "whole of Government" approach is adopted. When assessing impact on social welfare measures, for example, this will be done in the normal manner by the Department of Social and Family Affairs, and such data will be provided on the day as part of the budgetary documentation in many instances.

On the question of the Christmas bonus, that was a decision which was taken and outlined in the last budget. Taking into account the increases that have been made in social welfare in the past two budgets, the net increase has been well in excess of the decrease in the cost of living, which has been witnessed this year for the first time in many decades. Those points will have been made. One must also take into account a background since 2004-05 of inflation of less than 12% where the increase in the pension has been more than 51% in that period, equivalent to 4.5 times the increase in the cost of living.

On basic rates, the percentage there for inflation at the rate of 11.9% for that period is more than 37%. Quite rightly, at times when resources were available, we sought to assist those on welfare payments, significantly. Whatever decisions have to be taken on welfare rates now or in the future will be taken against a background of that significant advance during times when resources were available.

For the accuracy of the record, I understand that the November live register will see a month on month increase of 1,100 or 0.3% since October 2009.

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