The Minister for Social Protection has indicated that her department cannot be expected to impose further cuts on social welfare, if unemployment figures don't improve.

Joan Burton was responding to media reports today claiming that all departments have been asked to make further spending cuts of up to five per cent until 2016.

It's claimed a letter written by the Department of Public Expenditure outlined a three-year spending plan, dashing the hopes of some ministers that austerity measures might ease off when Ireland exits the bailout.

The cuts could amount to a further 600 million euro a year in the Department of Social Protection.

But Minister Burton said the money being spent on social welfare cannot keep getting cut, unless the government succeeds in getting the country back to work: