€83m overpaid by social welfare offices in 2010

New figures out today have shown that more than €83m was paid out by mistake or received by social welfare fraudsters in 2010.

That represents a 65% increase in overpayments of welfare since 2007.

Just 25% of this recorded overpayment has been recovered.

The Dáil's Public Accounts Committee will meet later to discuss the figures and question the Secretary General at the Department of Social Protection on the matter.