Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

The Government is taking the money off the vulnerable. The annual fraud target of €533 million is lower than the target of €616 million referred to in the context of this debate. I refer to last week's "Prime Time Investigates" programme. Who was minding the shop? It is estimated that fraud amounts to €2 billion, 10% of the social welfare budget. People in this society claim welfare and benefits all over the country. We all know this is going on. In this small country, where everyone knows their next-door neighbour, the estimate of €2 billion is shocking. I ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs to put additional staff in place to stop this fraud. Decent, genuine people on social welfare will start asking themselves what will happen if they try it. Money is being squandered. If Ryanair can introduce a photo identification requirement, we must have some form of scheme to stop this wanton fraud.

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