39% of welfare overpayments still outstanding from 2007

The State is failing miserably in its efforts to recoup debts owed from welfare fraud and overpayment of social welfare because of departmental and client error.

And the average fine imposed when the small number of fraud cases get to court is just under €700.

The Comptroller and Auditor General’s report shows how the proportion of overpayment debt outstanding is slowly dropping, but 39% of overpayments discovered in 2007 remain outstanding this year.