Social welfare payments stopped or reduced in 3,536 fraud cases last year

The figures are contained in a briefing document for recently appointed Minster, Heather Humphreys.Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection’s Special Investigation Unit (SIU), which probes suspected social welfare fraud, made ‘control savings’ of €72m last year.

According to department briefing documents for Minister Heather Humphreys, 3,536 case investigations last year by the SIU resulted in social welfare payments being stopped or reduced as a result of fraud, along with 1,014 cases where overpayments were detected.