Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when his Department will undertake fraud and error surveys for 2008; the number of same that will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12130/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The prevention of fraud and abuse of the social welfare system is an integral part of the day-to-day work of my Department. A key objective of my Department's control strategy is to ensure that we pay the right person the right amount of money at the right time.

My Department includes surveys of the levels of fraud and error as part of its control strategy to identify the types of claims, which should be prioritised for review purposes. My Department is committed to undertaking two such surveys annually, to establish the levels of fraud and error arising.

The process involves Inspectors reviewing a random sample of claims to assess the underlying levels of fraud and error, action being taken by scheme managers to address the fraud and error risks identified and further surveys being undertaken using the first survey as a benchmark against which these further surveys can be measured.

The surveys are carried out in accordance with the criteria laid down by the C&AG for the successful implementation of baseline fraud and error surveys as follows:

1. All cases for inclusion in the survey must be selected randomly from the population of cases in payment at a specific time.

2. The sample size must be sufficiently large to yield reasonably reliable estimates.

3. The reviews should be carried out quickly

4. The results of the survey should be capable of being audited

5. Cases should be tested fully for all possible breaches of regulations.

6. The monetary values of any changes as a result of the review together with the monetary value of the sample should be captured so that the results can be extrapolated to draw conclusions about the estimated value of the loss.

When the survey is completed the results are extrapolated and are used to provide an estimate of the overall cost of fraud and error within the scheme.

Two surveys are planned for 2008. The first survey on the state pension contributory scheme will be undertaken in Quarter 2, 2008 and a second on jobseeker's allowance scheme is planned for Quarter 3.