Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the provision that has been made in budget 2008 and the Social Welfare Bill 2007 to cater for an increase in number on the live register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34708/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Based on the economic analysis provided by the Department of Finance the live register forecast underpinning the recently published Budget 2008 estimates for Jobseeker's Allowance and Jobseeker's Benefit is 170,000. This is 10,000 higher than the figure of 160,000 underpinning the 2007 estimates. The provision made in the 2008 estimates for the increase of 10,000 in the live register is €101.5 million. This sum includes the cost of the Budget 2008 improvements announced on 5 December.