Ireland
This is the thirtieth issue of the annual “Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services” prepared by the Department of Social Protection. It sets out comprehensive data relating to services provided by the Department.
The statistics set out in this report relate to 2012 and earlier years. In the case of data relating to recipients and beneficiaries, the figures, unless otherwise stated, refer to the 31st December each year. Several tables, which provide a breakdown of recipients or beneficiaries by some characteristic such as number of dependants or age, are referred to as “estimated”. This means that the proportionate breakdown, which is considered to be a reliable estimate, was established at a date other than, but close to, 31st December.