Welfare fraud campaign ignored Department errors

The Government’s “welfare cheats cheat us all” campaign ignored the fact the majority of its claimed 2% welfare fraud rate was due to Department of Social Protection errors and not those of recipients.

The breakdown in figures was revealed by the Dáil Public Accounts Committee yesterday as it was confirmed that the policy cost taxpayers €163,000.

New Department of Social Protection secretary general John McKeon was asked to explain how exactly the 2% rate is broken down.