Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of fraudulent claims made by social welfare recipients over the past five years; if measures are in place in his Department to recover fraudulent claims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12114/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The number of overpayments which are attributed to fraud for the five years from 2002 to 2006 are as follows.

The figures for 2007 are not yet available.

Overpayments may be recovered in the following ways:

a single payment covering the full amount owed regular

periodic payments

deduction(s) from the customer's social welfare payment

by taking civil proceedings.

In 2006 a new debt management strategy was developed for the Department. The overall goal of this strategy is to actively pursue the recovery of debt to maximise recovery levels, with due regard to value for money and with particular emphasis on recovery from people no longer dependant on welfare payments. The objectives of the strategy are

To maximise the recovery of overpayments

To efficiently record, report and monitor the occurrence and recovery of overpayments

To fulfil statutory, accounting and reporting obligations

To conduct overpayment and debt management as efficiently as possible.

Implementation of the debt management strategy to date has consisted of:

A review of debt on the old computer system.

The introduction of the ODM computer system

The issue of guidelines setting out debt management procedures and defining the responsibilities of areas in relation to debt management and debt management procedures.

The restructuring of the Central Overpayments and Debt Management Unit

Ongoing work on the implementation of the debt management strategy includes the use of the new ODM system in all relevant areas of the Department by mid 2008, which will allow for Central Overpayments & Debt Management Unit to focus efficiently and effectively on its debt management role.