Welfare payments of almost €238m have been saved through anti-fraud and control measures in the first six months of this year, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin said today.
Following a review into social welfare fraud, it was found that some people claiming unemplyment benefit were in fact working; people who were claiming to be lone parents had gotten married; and medical evidence showed that some people claiming to be too ill to work could in fact work.
The Department of Social and Family Affairs reviewed some 200,000 claims in the first six months of the year.
Minister Hanafin said that this latest review - together with the new measures announced recently about the collection of unemployment benefit - would result in projected savings this year of €525m, out of a budget of €17bn.
Minister Hanafin said those who were found to have defrauded the Department would have to pay the money back.
