Estimates: in brief...

The allocation for the centenarian's bounty is to rise threefold next year after it was decided all Irish 100-year-olds would…

The allocation for the centenarian's bounty is to rise threefold next year after it was decided all Irish 100-year-olds would qualify for the payment regardless of where they live. Some €1.2 million will be spent on the €2,500-a-head bounty, compared to €430,000 this year.

The Department of Social Welfare expects the number of recipients to increase from an average of 160 people a year to almost 600 a year.

The amount to be spent on flood relief next year is 60 per cent higher than this year's spend, the estimate for the Office of Public Works shows. The 2007 estimate is €32 million, up from €20 million in 2006.

The Office of the Chief State Solicitor expects to spend €13.55 million on outside legal counsel in 2007 and a further €4.5 million on general law expenses. These figures together represent a 30 per cent increase on the 2006 spend.

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The Standards in Public Office Commission estimate for travel and subsistence for 2007 is up 155 per cent on 2006 to provide for additional expenses for next year's general election. The estimate for 2007 is €28,000, up from €11,000 in 2006.