Anti-fraud measures saved the State €510m last year, with the Department of Social Protection estimating as much as €110m was overpaid, of which €85m was recovered.

ALMOST €345 million was saved in a crackdown on welfare fraud and payments made in error in the first seven months of 2011, the Government revealed yesterday.

A CRACKDOWN on social welfare fraud saved the Government €238m since the start of the year, according to figures released by the Department of Social Affairs yesterday.