€238m saved in review of social welfare payments

The Department of Social and Family Affairs says it has saved almost €238m through anti-fraud measures in the first half of this year.

More than 200,000 social welfare claims were reviewed in the first six months of the year.

More than €80m was saved on one-parent family payments, almost €55m on unemployment benefits and more than €37m on illness payments.

Just over 200 cases have been forwarded to the Chief State Solicitors Office for further investigation.