Social security spending up by 3.7%
The outlay on social security benefits rose by €32.3 million last year when compared to 2015.
The National Statistics Office said social security benefits expenditure amounted to €900.7 million by the end of last year, resulting in a 3.7 per cent increase when compared to 2015.
The rise in outlay was due to a €44 million increase in contributory benefits expenditure. Conversely, non-contributory benefits expenditure decreased by €11.7 million.
The contributory benefits outlay for 2016 amounted to €712.2 million, a 6.6 per cent increase from 2015.
The rise in outlay was mostly due to a €34.4 million increase in pensions in respect of retirement.
The main reason behind the decline was due to the one-time child supplementary benefit paid in September 2015, accounting for €7.8 million of the non-contributory outlay for that year.
Between October and December 2016, the social security benefits outlay totalled €232.2 million, a 5.4 per cent increase from the same period in 2015. Contributory Benefits expenditure increased by €12.9 million due to an €8.1 million rise in retirement pensions.
Non-contributory benefits expenditure dropped by €1.1 million following a €1.4 million decrease...