Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

Absolutely. The Department takes a strong line on that. We must distinguish between outright fraud, where people set out to give the Department false information or fail to give information, and genuine departmental errors or errors made by the applicant.

The Deputy has regularly asked me about the money we spend on our computer systems. He is probably surprised how significant it is. A huge investment is being made in our computer and control systems to ensure that the €13 billion paid out every year by my Department is tightly controlled and that we learn something from each experience. If 4,500 letters are sent back, it often means a change of address, circumstances or condition. A very small amount might be due to attempted fraud, but we learn from every one. It does not necessarily cost the State money. If the letters are sent back, it often means we do not pay those people the following week because we may have learned that they no longer qualify.

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