Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman. I will go backwards again and address Deputy Kenny's points first. I know last year's campaign was new, but the practice employed by the Department to seek out people who are claiming benefits to which they are not entitled is not.

We have always had officers and inspectors to spot check or follow up referrals made to the Department from people in communities. They give a relatively accurate measure because there is a very large number of people who, when they are investigated arising from those reports, are found to have been claiming something to which they were not particularly entitled. While there were issues being bandied around about differences in numbers over the last while, the current figures are in the high €40 millions. It is not small change. That will continue to play out and the people who do that work in the Department will continue to do it next year, the year after and the year after that. Whether one will see ads on the sides of busses is another day's work. It is not something I have in my plans for the next couple of months. We have 19 gardaí seconded to the Department who work with our inspectors and that is not going to change. It is right, given that it is taxpayers' money and we have to ensure it goes to those to whom it is supposed to go. That is a fair system. If it results in savings, I get to use that money and the members get to suggest how to help people who are more vulnerable than others. I hope that answers that one.

I will watch the movie.