Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I assure Deputies that discretion is always exercised. Deputy O’Dea referenced the fact that for instance the recovery in instalments for someone on social welfare income is up to 15% of the main payment received by the individual and it does not affect their spouse or qualified child or adult increases. The recovery of overpayments is important. My recollection is that last year it amounted to €73 million. If one thinks about something that is properly prized in the social welfare system such as the free travel scheme, the cost of that to the Department is €77 million. In an era when funding is extremely restricted for all the reasons of which people are aware it is important that we recover social welfare payments.

I have given examples previously, in particular of people who may have left the social welfare system who are now in work and have other occupations. We have come across incidents where people no longer have a social welfare income and we are not in a position to recover. People in places such as Carrick-on-Shannon would be familiar with that. The same individuals could have fairly extensive bank accounts for instance and they would be in a position to repay money that is outstanding but because they have moved away, thankfully, from being on social welfare, that has not been possible up to now.