Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

The anecdotal evidence on guesstimates for social welfare fraud we receive from community welfare officers and those in the Department suggests a 5% to 10% figure of the overall budget. If that were correct, it would mean it is a very significant sum of money, some €2.5 billion. Redistributing that among the needier in the system would make a big difference.

The battle against social welfare overpayments or mispayments is difficult because of this country's certain traditions and culture. If it were presented not as an attack on social welfare fraud but an attempt to ensure moneys in the budget could be used more effectively to look after those most in need, we might be a little more successful. We spoke earlier about housing. Similarly, when we go tackling fraud and evasion, there is something in the Irish psyche that does not warm them to that sort of battle.

Is there any possibility of getting an accurate figure for social welfare payments made in error?