Nearly €80 million has been saved in a crackdown on social welfare fraud in the second quarter of the year, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Ms Coughlan said today.
Savings of €78.44 million were recorded for the period up to the end of June which is an increase of 900,000 on the previous quarter. Total savings for the first half of the year were €156 million.
"These savings result from normal reviews carried out by this Department and the work of Departmental staff engaged in investigative work," Minister Coughlan said.
She said the Department's focus was on ensuring benefits accrued to those who genuinely need them.
Savings this quarter in Unemployment Payments realised over €32 million, followed by €16.24 million and €13.43 million in One Parent Family and illness payments.
Ninety two cases were forwarded to the Chief State Solicitor's Office, 52 of which went to court resulting in four prison sentences and 30 fines.
Total social welfare expenditure for the first three months of this year reached almost €2.5 billion. Almost 950,000 people received a weekly social welfare payment.