Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 193: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she expects to increase the budget for her Department under various headings in the coming year in order to combat the impact of the economic downturn over the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21848/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the anticipated percentage increase in the social welfare budget in the coming year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21852/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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1I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 197 together.

The appropriate level of overall expenditure by my Department in 2012 will be considered in the context of the Budget to be announced later this year. This consideration will be informed by the commitments in the Programme for Government and the overall necessity to curtail overall Government expenditure.