Clampdown on Welfare Cheats to save over €500m

Date: 02/11/2010
Posted by: Darragh

In response to comments made by the Minister for Social Protection, Eamon Ó Cuív that his Department was pushing beyond the original target of saving more than €533 million by the end of 2010, I welcome the news that the Government is on track to save more than half a billion this year through a clampdown on welfare cheats.

The Department's tough stance on welfare cheats will ensure that the money we're spending on Social Welfare is going where it's supposed to go - to the people and families who need it most. The message is clear - there is no hiding place for those who are defrauding the system.

The huge effort being undertaken to crack down on welfare fraud is reflected by the fact that more than 760,000 claims will be reviewed by the end of this year. A team of no less than 600 investigators is tasked with ensuring that the resources we have are going to those who need them.

The Department's issuing of direct mail-shots to confirm contact details has proved particularly successful with savings of over €47million alone in child benefit. These letters help to ensure that payments are not being made to those who have left the jurisdiction. Other techniques include cross-departmental and cross border sharing of information and vehicle checks.

The public has also played its part in detecting fraud. In the first eight months of the year almost 5,000 individuals have contacted the Department's information hotline on www.welfare.ie to report suspected cases of welfare cheating.

Fianna Fáil has always done more than any other party for the most vulnerable in society. When resources were available, we invested heavily in improving social welfare rates and services for all those who were reliant on the State for income support.

We are now, however, being forced to do more with less. The clampdown on fraud is aimed at protecting those who are genuinely entitled to social welfare support. We should remember that those who cheat the system are really cheating their neighbours and friends.

If anyone wishes to support possible cases of social welfare fraud they can call 1890 927 999 and select option 4.