Welfare fraud - Welcome savings

JUST as soaring unemployment encourages the black economy, social welfare fraud can provoke a sense of outrage among legitimate, tax-paying businesses.

It is deeply frustrating for a business to lose work because they are undercut by someone who does not pay taxes but is supported by social welfare payments. Many businesses have closed, and jobs have been lost, because they cannot compete on this uneven pitch.

Just like any other form of theft, this is unacceptable, so the news that savings of €37m were made last year when welfare abuse was uncovered is very welcome.