Welfare sector overpaid €111m

The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection has said it is on target for savings for 2017, having identified €111m in overpayments, including €38.3m relating to 10,500 cases of suspected fraud.

Figures provided to the Irish Examiner show as of the end of November, the DEASP said it had achieved annual control savings of an estimated €496m, which equated to 97% of the full year target of €510m.

That figure does not include data relating to cross-border fraud, impersonation, or people living at one address — including overseas — but claiming with regard to another address. The Department said that data would be available soon.