Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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119. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which she expects an increase in the demand for social welfare payments in 2022; if she is satisfied that these demands will be met in full; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15298/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In Budget 2022, my Department announced an estimate of €23.35 billion for 2022 which was based on emerging trends as the country moved on from Covid-19 restrictions which had been in place for much of the previous two years.

When compared to the 2021 provisional outturn figure for my Department, this estimate included increases such as:

- €274.3 million for jobseekers to provide for exits from Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) for those remaining unemployed after March 2022;

- €191.3 million extra for pensions to provide for demographic driven increases in recipients, even when offset by one less pay-day in 2022 when compared to 2021;

- €287.7 million extra for employment supports to fund additional participants as restrictions are lifted during 2022. This figure does not include the decrease of €3,969.9 million in EWSS estimated expenditure in 2022.

- €204.5 million extra for Illness, Disability and Carers schemes to provide for increased recipient numbers. This figure does not include the €101.1 million decrease for Covid Illness Benefit estimate in 2022.

- €27.3 million extra for Parent’s Benefit to address the increase in claim duration from 5 to 7 weeks;

- €129.1 million on a range of offsetting factors.

As Covid-19 restrictions eased, my Department has reduced its Covid-19 related emergency payments estimate by €8.03 billion in 2022 when compared to 2021.

As schemes under my Department are largely demand-led, we will continue to monitor expenditure throughout 2022 and a supplementary estimate, if needed, will be introduced.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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120. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the sections in her Department which currently have waiting lists for the processing of various payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15299/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The number of claims awaiting a decision at the 28th February 2022 for each scheme, for which operational data is available, are show in tabular form below.