Social Protection fraud control steps save €500m

The Department of Social Protection expects to have saved close to €500m through fraud control measures last year, while almost 600 people are before the courts on charges related to suspected welfare fraud.

The department also said that it is now using facial image-matching software in a further effort to crack down on duplicate registrations and identity fraud.

According to figures issued by the department, control savings of approximately €421m had been achieved by the end of November, although full year-end figures will not be available until later this month.