State’s €510m fraud savings in 2016

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.

The department also said it considered nearly 300 cases for prosecution and by the end of last December had referred 194 cases to the Chief State Solicitors’ Office so as to issue proceedings.

Another 160 cases were referred to the Director of Public Prosecution for consideration during the year by the department’s Special Investigations Unit.