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
11:15 am
Ms Niamh O'Donoghue:
Our control activity starts at point of claim. When someone makes a claim, assessment, consideration of eligibility and the validation of information provided are all very important. Control activity starts at that point and is about trying to achieve a balance between preventing overpayment and ensuring that people who are entitled to payments receive them as quickly as possible. It is a balance that must be constantly managed.