Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the amount of savings made by her in 2008, 2009 and 2010 separately as a result of welfare anti-fraud measures in tabular form; the steps that are currently underway to address welfare fraud; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17963/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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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 the Department. A key objective of the Department's control strategy is to ensure that the right person is paid the right amount of money at the right time. A four-pronged control strategy has been adopted by the Department, namely:

·prevention of fraud and error at the initial claim stage;

·early detection through effective review of claims in payment;

·measures to deter fraud; and

·the pursuit and recovery of overpayments.

A number of measures are used by the Department to control fraud and abuse. These include desk reviews of claim papers, home visits, the issue of mailshots to selected customers, database checking and medical reviews in the case of illness payments etc. Controls are exercised at both the initial claim stage and at subsequent stages during the claim life cycle. Claims are reviewed on a regular and targeted basis. The Department is also engaged in data matching with other Government Departments and public bodies for control purposes. Following these data matches, selected cases are referred for further investigation. The Department's Special Investigation Unit carries out a wide range of control activities and projects to investigate social welfare fraud and abuse, some of which are done jointly with the Revenue Commissioners and with the NERA. This Unit also participates in multi-agency vehicle checkpoints with other agencies, including the Gardaí, Traffic Corps, Taxi Regulator and the Revenue Commissioners. This year, the Unit's focus will include the hidden economy, cases of concurrent working and claiming, multiple claiming and personation cases.

In addition, it should be noted that:

·The new Public Service Card will include a photograph and signature to tackle identity fraud. Roll out of the card is planned to commence later this year;

·Reports of suspected fraudulent social welfare claims can be made by calling Central Control Section. Alternatively, there is an on-line facility for members of the public to report their suspicions of social welfare fraud on www.welfare.ie. All reported cases of suspected social welfare are thoroughly investigated;

·It is the Department's policy to consider for prosecution all cases of fraud against the social welfare system. It actively pursues the recovery of debts from all persons who have received social welfare payments to which they were not entitled; and

·Fraud and Error Surveys, undertaken by the Department, provide an indicator of the estimated risk of fraud on the schemes surveyed at that point in time. This enables the Department to enhance its procedures and processes in relation to risk and control across the relevant schemes.

Control Savings are an estimate of the future savings to the Department as a result of the various control activities. Control savings are not actual monies recovered by the Department but are good indications of the increase in social welfare expenditure that would occur if these activities did not take place. Actual monies recovered arise where the Department raises and recovers overpayments in individual cases.

The control savings recorded by the Department for 2010 was €483m. However, due to industrial action, the total 2010 control savings were not fully recorded. The control savings recorded for each of the years 2008, 2009 and 2010 are as outlined below in tabular form.

The control savings recorded by the Department for 2010 was €483m. However, due to industrial action, the total 2010 control savings were not fully recorded. The control savings recorded for each of the years 2008, 2009 and 2010 are as outlined below in tabular form.

The Department is committed to ensuring that social welfare payments are available to those who are entitled to them. In this regard the control programme of the Department is carefully monitored and the various control measures are continuously refined to ensure that they remain effective.