Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Nevertheless, the pressures on our social welfare budget are considerable. It is, by far, the biggest component of current expenditure. For example, pensions will cost around €200 million more in 2013 than in 2012 and unemployment, while stabilised, has not reduced to the extent we envisaged last year. Even with the increase I announced to the social protection budget, measures must be taken to reduce costs.

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