Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 May 2026
657. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of social welfare claims referred for fraud investigation in each year from 2021 to 2026, in tabular form, including a breakdown by category of suspected fraud where recorded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36868/26]
View answerOverpayments of social welfare entitlements can occur where a person provides false or misleading information in their application or through error on the part of either the claimant or the Department. Persons who have been overpaid social welfare have a liability to refund the overpayment as they have been in receipt of a payment to which they were not entitled.
The table below sets out the number of overpayments raised and the associated value of those cases where an element of fraudulent activity was suspected from 2021 to 2025. Figures for 2026 are not available. These cases arise where a deciding officer is satisfied that there is sufficient evidence that a person deliberately provided false or misleading information or wilfully concealed relevant information in relation to their entitlement. The Deputy will appreciate that there is a high evidential standard to be met in such cases.
|
Year |
No. of Suspected Fraud Cases |
Value of Overpayments |
|
2021 |
6,290 |
€19,014,828 |
|
2022 |
5,597 |
€19,635,546 |
|
2023 |
5,097 |
€17,963,080 |
|
2024 |
6,007 |
€24,344,345 |
|
2025 |
5,909 |
€29,032,974 |
