Welfare fraud tip-offs soared last year to 17,000

The number of anonymous tip-offs made to the Government’s welfare fraud control division soared to almost 17,000 last year, according to new data.

The central control section of the Department of Social Protection received 16,920 reports from members of the public last year, an increase of more than 4,000 tip-offs compared with those received in 2010 and almost 10,000 more than were received in 2009.

The figures come as Social Protection Minister Joan Burton prepares to outline the savings made through a number of welfare fraud control measures last year.