Burton backs fraud control measures

Joan Burton, the social protection minister, has defended fraud control measures after claims that most of the savings actually came from correcting mistakes by her department.

Ms Burton said over €645m had been saved as a result of fraud control measures implemented in 2011, and that her department was hoping to match last year’s figures in 2012.

However, the savings are based on projections of money that would have been paid out in benefits if action had not been taken.