Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 275: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason that, in information literature from her, the net social welfare spend is not emphasised in view of the fact that the social insurance fund disburses accrued benefits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35762/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The estimates for Department are published in the Revised Estimates for Public Services each year. The section on the Social Insurance Fund (SIF) shows income from contributions, expenditure on SIF schemes and administration and the overall net position (difference between expenditure over income) of the Social Insurance Fund.

The section on total expenditure on Social Protection shows the overall expenditure of the Department, including schemes and services, funded from Vote 38 as well as the Social Insurance Fund. The accounts of the Social Insurance Fund published following audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General shows similar information. I am satisfied that, taken together, this information clearly shows the amount of social welfare spending that is funded from general taxation and the amount that is funded by social insurance contributions.