Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

I do not propose to accept the amendment. Overpayments by the Department are recovered either through repayments by the customer or from the deceased customer's estate or else by deduction from a subsequent social welfare payment. The existing system is fair enough. The Fines Bill 2009 deals with the issue of fines, which is a totally separate matter. In 2008 net overpayments amounted to €54.5 million while the total amount recovered was €26.9 million, an increase of 12% on 2007. I do not accept the amendment, nor am I convinced there is a honey pot of cash out there, as the amendment may suggest.

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