Noel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael)
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546. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of the new special investigation unit for welfare fraud; if it will ultimately yield a cost savings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19696/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has been an integral part of my Department’s overall strategy to investigate and combat social welfare fraud for a number of years and, in its current form, since 2010. The exclusive function of the SIU is to investigate and report on social welfare fraud. The total number of staff, including management, is currently 106 of which 15 are seconded officers from An Garda Síochána. The administrative costs associated with the SIU’s operations are offset by savings achieved from the prevention and detection of fraud through investigations undertaken.

The table summarises the costs of the SIU’s operation and the savings and overpayments recorded over the period 2013 to 2016. The staffing and other costs are based on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s framework to estimate civil service staffing and associated costs of operations and they include the costs of the seconded personnel.

If you require any further details on this please do not hesitate to contact my office.

TABLE: SIU costs and savings achieved 2013-2016

^* Arising from reductions in the rate of future payments made and terminations of scheme payments following investigations.