Ms Niamh O'Donoghue:

There are a number of facets to what we are trying to do. We now have power of attachment to earnings, which we did not have previously. The Deputy is correct that when our recovery limits were quite small, there might not have been the focus that we would have wished for. That has obviously changed. We now have powers of attachment and we are seeking to extend them to other State payments where they might arise.

Second, we are now trying to eradicate and recoup overpayments at the earliest possible date so the situation described will not arise. Unfortunately, we do not actually become aware of some of the overpayments until the recipient passes away and it becomes an estate issue for us.