David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Just as we scrutinise properly the cuts to child benefit and the respite care grant, the reduction in the duration of jobseeker's benefit, the abolition of the PRSI-free allowance of ¤127 and other measures in the Bill, we should have an opportunity to scrutinise the cutting of the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance, the back-to-education allowance and the household benefits allowance.

We tabled a number of amendments to section 1 that have, unfortunately, been ruled out of order. Let me refer to them in general terms. On Second Stage yesterday the Minister mentioned the issues of social welfare fraud and overpayments.

We accept those situations need to be dealt with and that we have to rule out whatever fraud is in the system. Whatever mechanisms the Minister would look to put in place, we would seek to support them once they are fair and reasonable. In respect of overpayments, it is not always that somebody is defrauding the system. Overpayments are sometimes made because of genuine mistakes.