State's €519m fraud savings in 2016

Anti-fraud measures saved the State €510m last year, with the Department of Social Protection estimating as much as €110m was overpaid, of which €85m was recovered, writes Noel Baker.

The department also said it considered nearly 300 cases for prosecution and by the end of last December had referred 194 cases to the Chief State Solicitors’ Office so as to issue proceedings.