Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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720. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount in illness benefit overpayments recouped in each of the years 2010 to 2019, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14989/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Overpayments of social welfare assistance and benefit payments mainly arise as a consequence of decisions made under the relevant sections of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 2005 (as amended). Where an overpayment is raised, the Department is obligated to make every effort to recover sums overpaid in full in the shortest time period.

In relation to the information sought by the Deputy, it is important to note that the Department introduced a new integrated overpayments recording and debt management IT system in late 2014. The system's improved functionality has provided enhanced control, reconciliation and audit procedures in relation to debt transactions.

Therefore, a breakdown of Illness Benefit overpayments recoveries for the period 2015 (following the introduction of the new system referred to above) to 2019 - are set out in the table below. Information in relation to earlier years is not readily available.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Illness Benefit Recoveries 2015-2019