Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she has reviewed the budgetary requirements of her Department for 2009 in view of increased levels of unemployment; if the level of unemployment emerging was fully anticipated during the preparation of the Estimates for 2009; if she will give an assurance regarding the adequacy of her Department's budget to meet requirements for the full year and that savings are not likely to be made by an application of guidelines resulting in hardship in an effort to meet budgetary targets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17002/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Estimates for the Department of Social and Family Affairs which were published on 23 April last were based on an up to date analysis of trends as regards likely numbers of recipients and average value of payments in 2009. The estimates for jobseekers benefit, jobseekers allowance and supplementary welfare allowance were significantly increased from the Estimates published at the time of the October budget. These estimates were increased in line with the Department of Finance's projections of an average live register of 440,000 for the year. The amounts provided were not derived from a budgetary target.

There is no question of any overzealous application of qualification guidelines to achieve target expenditure outcomes. Expenditure on Social Welfare schemes is driven by a range of economic, social and demographic factors and it has long been accepted that expenditure on these schemes is demand lead. A person's entitlement to any given social welfare payment is assessed in accordance with predetermined qualifying conditions and rates of payment which are laid down in legislation or published guidelines. There are also well established appeal procedures for those who are unhappy with the decisions made on their claims for a social welfare payment.