Department of Social Protection makes €800k savings on Public Service Card

The Department of Social Protection says it believes fraud is behind the refusal of some welfare recipients to sign up for a public service card.

The Irish Examiner reported at the weekend that the Department had made €800,000 in savings through payments ceased or suspended after recipients failed to engage with the registration process for a card.

The department says it does not know why people do not register but says: “It is not unreasonable to suggest that in some cases this represents individuals engaged in identity fraud.”