Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 247: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amount of money paid into the social insurance fund for each of the past ten years and to date for 2009 in tabular format; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36144/09]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 248: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amount of money paid out of the social insurance fund to qualifying persons in each of the past ten years and to date in 2009 in tabular format; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36145/09]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 249: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the surplus in the social insurance fund for each of the past ten years and to date in 2009; the ongoing cumulative total in this fund in tabular format; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36146/09]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 250: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the projected income for the social insurance fund for the remainder of 2009 and 2010; if she will compare this to the projected outgoings from this fund for these periods in tabular format; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36147/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 to 250, inclusive, together.

The legislation covering the Social Insurance Fund established a tripartite funding arrangement with the Exchequer acting as a residual financier to contributions from employees and employers. It has never been envisaged that the fund would ever have to operate solely on the basis of being in surplus on foot of contributions from employees and employers. In fact Exchequer contributions to cover funding shortfalls from the other two sources have been the norm since the establishment of the SIF. For example the State contribution to benefits paid from the fund was 38% in 1967 and almost 29% in 1985.

Only since 1996 has the fund been in surplus as a result of contributions from employers and employees. During 2008 the fund experienced a deficit on a current basis and the excess of outgoings over expenditure is being met at present from the accrued surplus. The approaches to the current and future deficits are matters for the Government to consider in a budgetary context. The table provides data on social insurance income and expenditure. The data for 2008 is provisional, pending completion of the audit of the Social Insurance Fund by the Comptroller and Auditor General. The estimated outturn for 2009 is based on provisional PRSI income and expenditure data to end July 2009 and predictions of likely trends to the end of year.

Estimates as to the likely level of PRSI income future years and the likely impact on the Social Insurance Fund of both income and expenditure demands during this period is dependent on macro-economic data which will be updated by the Department of Finance in the run-up to the forth coming Budget.

SOCIAL INSURANCE FUND

* Other payments are administration payments and a once of payment of €152.3 million in 2000 to the National Training Fund in accordance with section 4 (11) of the National Training Fund Act, 2000.

** In 2002 €635 million was paid from the Social Insurance Fund to the Exchequer in accordance with section 7 of the Social Welfare (No 2) Act, 2001.

*** 2008 figures are subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor Generals Office.

**** 2009 figures only included data up to 31st July 2009 and are subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor Generals Office.

Both receipts and payments exclude the collection and pay-over of Health Contributions and National Training Levy amounts.