Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 190: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she is satisfied that the budget originally provided by her Department is adequate to meet the emerging needs with particular reference to unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17355/09]

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, in the main, on an analysis of trends as regards likely numbers of recipients and average value of payments in 2009. The estimates for Jobseeker's Benefit, Jobseeker's 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.