Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Thursday, 14 March 2013
Public Accounts Committee
2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 – Social Protection
Chapter 21 – Expenditure on Welfare and Employment Schemes
Chapter 22 – Welfare Overpayment Debts
Chapter 23 – Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Social Insurance Fund – Annual Accounts 2011
11:05 am
Ms Niamh O'Donoghue:
In terms of deterrents, our primary role is to provide income support. Obviously, we do not want a situation to arise where people feel they can defraud us. We certainly use everything in our power to ensure people are aware of their obligations in that regard. If any payment is made to a person to which they are not entitled, there will be a consequence in terms of the recovery of that overpayment from them. Certainly, where it is considered a serious fraud, we will prosecute.