Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

Since July 2008, additional control measures have been introduced with a view to achieving savings of €25 million from the detection or avoidance of fraud. These measures target the jobseeker's allowance and benefit schemes, one parent family payment and child benefit schemes.

This year, the option to review payments by electronic fund transfer was removed for new claimants for jobseeker payments. They must attend in person at the post office each week, thus confirming their continued residency in the country. Their claim is automatically suspended where two consecutive payments are not collected.

Control activity has been across a number of schemes this year. For example, at end September 2008, some 289,000 reviews has been carried out, as well as 2,300 employer inspections, yielding savings of €337 million. In addition, the special investigation unit is undertaking more regular interviews of jobseeker recipients, particularly those with high risk ratings. The savings realised since July 2008 are €5.7 million. Lone parent recipients with earnings are targeted for review, and a special project in Kilbarrack yielded €388,000. Child benefit mailshots have been increased from half-yearly to quarterly intervals. It is expected that 1,200 cases will be terminated with potential savings of €13 million.

I am committed to ensuring that social welfare payments are available to those who are entitled to them. However, I am also determined to ensure that abuse of the system is prevented and dealt with effectively when detected. In this regard, the control programme of the Department is carefully monitored and the various measures are continually refined to ensure they remain effective.

My Department will continue targeting activities to achieve the maximum return on its efforts and will place increased emphasis on eliminating fraud and abuse of its schemes to achieve the necessary savings this year and into 2009.

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