Expenditure on social security benefits until the end of September this year advanced by 11.1 per cent over the same period last year, the National Statistics Office said.

It said in a statement this was mostly due to an increase in retirement pensions.

The total amount spent on social security benefits in the first nine months this year was €623.7 million, a €62.5 million rise when compared to the corresponding figure in 2012.

Contributory benefits’ expenditure increased by €41.8 million and non-contributory benefits by €20.7 million.

In the third quarter, social security benefits amounted to €218.1 million. Both contributory and non-contributory benefits registered an increase in outlay compared to the equivalent period in 2012, by €32.9 million and €14.5 million respectively.

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