47 Mr. Morley asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will provide an update on the total expenditure on social welfare in 1996; and the projected expenditure for 1997. [2380/97]

Final expenditure figures for 1996 are not yet available. The indications at this stage are that total social welfare expenditure in that year will amount to £4,382 million. The corresponding projected expenditure figure for 1997, including the recently announced budget improvements, is £4,589 million. Both these expenditure figures include the cost of the redundancy and insolvency payment schemes, which are administered by the Department of Enterprise and Employment, and administration costs incurred by other Departments in connection with social welfare services.