Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 291: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of social welfare fraud inspectors in County Meath; the amount of social welfare fraud that has been detected; the amount that this has saved the Exchequer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31284/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The prevention of fraud and abuse of the social welfare system is an integral part of the day-to-day work of my Department which processes in excess of 2 million claims each year and makes payments to some 1.4 million people every week. However, it is important to recognise that the vast majority of people are receiving the entitlement due to them.

Fraud control figures are compiled in the Department on a regional basis, not on a county basis. County Meath is included in the Dublin North Region. This region also includes parts of county Dublin and the Social Welfare Local and Branch Offices in Balbriggan, Ballymun, Blanchardstown, Coolock, Finglas, Kilbarrack, Navan Road, King's Inns Street, Swords, Navan, Kells and Trim.

The savings resulting from fraud control activity in the Dublin North region for the period January to end of September 2011, are over €11 million. These savings arise from a range of control activities including reviews on social welfare claims in payment, carried out in the Dublin North Region by the Social Welfare Local Offices and Social Welfare Inspectors.

This savings figure does not include details from the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) within the Dublin North region, as the SIU savings are compiled separately on a national basis. The savings resulting from fraud control activity by SIU on a national basis, to the end of September is €45.9 million.

In addition to these savings figures in the Dublin North region, additional control savings as a result of reviews carried out directly by headquarters offices on customers in Co Meath are not available and are not included here.

Control savings are an estimate of the savings from various control activities across the schemes in payment. Control savings are not actual monies recovered by the Department. If this control work did not take place, social welfare expenditure would increase by this level over time.

There are 89 inspectors are in the SIU whose exclusive function is fraud prevention, detection and deterrence. There are currently 47 Social Welfare Inspectors working in the Dublin North Region, which includes those who are assigned to the SIU. All Social Welfare Inspectors have a significant role to play in the control of abuse of the Department's schemes, by preventing fraudulent claims going into payment and by reviewing claims in payment, in addition to carrying out inspections on employers. In addition, all staff working in the Department, including those working in the social welfare local and branch offices in Co Meath, have a significant role in combating social welfare fraud and abuse.

The Deputy should also note that I recently launched a new Fraud Initiative (2011 – 2013) which is aimed at putting in place a range of actions to combat fraud and abuse of the social welfare system and to ensure that the public can have confidence and trust in the system. As Minister, I am very conscious of the need to protect public money and I am determined to ensure that abuse of the system is prevented and is dealt with effectively when detected.