1992. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm both in percentage and in clear monetary terms the value of the ‘levy’ on his Department's expenditure, that was required to be communicated to the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation on or before the deadline of 17 July 2026, (details supplied) and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60672/26]

My Department received a request earlier this year from the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation in relation to efficiency and reform proposals, on foot of a Government decision on the application of an expenditure levy in 2027.

My officials are currently engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation in deliberations on the Existing Level of Service estimate which is part of the budgetary process. The issue of the expenditure levy forms part of those discussions.

The levy of €6 million represents 0.02% of the total 2026 expenditure for my department. It should be noted that the levy has been designed to protect certain areas of expenditure and will not affect scheme payments to customers of my department.