Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1924. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the expenditure savings that are earmarked for her Department for 2018 that are not accounted for in the mid-year expenditure report or are not included in the fiscal space calculations for 2018. [38901/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Mid-Year Expenditure Report, published in July, sets out the Pre-Budget Ceiling for the Department of Social Protection for 2018. The amount included in this ceiling reflects certain demographic pressures primarily relating to the state pension and anticipated savings from reductions in expenditure on the Live Register. As part of the Budget Estimates process, the forecast of changes in Live Register-related expenditure and changes in other Social Protection scheme expenditure is subject to reassessment. This assessment is ongoing and will be considered in the context of the preparation of the Estimates for 2018. Where any savings are identified, such savings could be used to meet any emerging spending pressures without impacting on fiscal space.