Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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589. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of overt and covert social protection inspections conducted by her officials in the past 10 years to date. [14094/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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While it is acknowledged that most people on social welfare are claiming the correct entitlement due to them, my Department has a duty to ensure that it pays the right person the right amount of money at the right time. Therefore, it is important that all schemes operated by my Department are subject to on-going control reviews and eligibility checks. My Department aims to conduct approximately 600,000 claim reviews in 2022. 

Reviews arise from both targeted and random case selections and where specific information comes to the attention of the Department. In this context, it should be noted that customers are under a legal obligation to report any change in their circumstances (income or means) to the Department and such notifications may also trigger a review of a person's entitlement.

My Department is committed to ensuring that the principles of due process and natural justice are followed in all claim decisions.  This applies equally to decisions at initial claim stage and when claims are subsequently reviewed. 

The numbers of Control Reviews conducted by carried out between 2012 and 2021, and the resulting savings achieved are shown in Table A below.

Table A: Control Reviews and Savings 2012 to 2021.

The reduction in reviews in recent years is a consequence of a number of factors, including the marked improvement in the labour market and a greater use of rules based approach to reviews, and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and public health restrictions.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.