Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2026
119. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of control checks carried out at ports and airports by officials in his Department each year since 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35638/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra120. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of social welfare recipients that have had payments stopped or reduced on foot of operations by social welfare inspectors at ports and airports each year since 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35639/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra121. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the level of cooperation between his Department, An Garda Síochána, the port and airport authorities, and other State agencies to ensure that social welfare payments are not being claimed by persons outside the State who have no entitlement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35640/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra122. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total value of social welfare overpayments made to persons no longer living in Ireland each year since 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35641/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra123. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total savings to the State as a result of control checks carried out at ports and airports in each of the years 2020 to 2025, and to date in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35642/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 119 to 123, inclusive, together.
My department is committed to ensuring that only those people who are eligible, receive welfare and other payments. All schemes operated by my department are subject to ongoing control reviews and continuing eligibility checks, which include the verification of a person's identity and address. During 2025 over 700,000 control review of claims in payment were undertaken. Other checks carried out include seeking confirmation of ongoing eligibility through correspondence and through in person 'signing on' at Intreo Centres and collecting payments at Post Offices for jobseekers payments. Follow up action is taken where a person fails to respond or attend as requested. Social Welfare Inspectors also carry out residency checks by calling to a person’s stated address.
My department is also committed to carrying out control surveys on its schemes. Samples are selected for review and are referred to social welfare inspectors for full investigation. These surveys have not indicated any major systemic deficiencies or failures in the control systems related to payments outside of the state.
My department does not have data sharing arrangements with any airports or ports. It does not have access to travel data and nor does it have access to travel locator forms.
Data on social welfare payments is systematically and periodically matched against other data sources from external bodies as part of the departments control activity. Information is exchanged in line with the appropriate legislative provisions. My department also receives notifications from the Department of Justice of individuals who are no longer entitled to remain in the State and any social welfare payments in place are stopped.
It is also important to note that Social Welfare legislation obliges every person in receipt of a social welfare payment to notify the Department of any change in circumstances which may affect their entitlement, including a change of address. Claimants are informed of this requirement when their payment is awarded and on an ongoing basis.
Table 1 shows the number of overpayments raised and the value of same for the years 2020 – 2025 where the customers have been recorded as being absent from the state.
|
Year |
No. of overpayments |
Value of overpayments |
|
2020 |
2,009 |
€4.3m |
|
2021 |
2,119 |
€4.9m |
|
2022 |
2,184 |
€5.6m |
|
2023 |
2,474 |
€7.1m |
|
2024 |
3,089 |
€7.4m |
|
2025 |
3,094 |
€10.2m |
Overpayments in any given year represent less than 0.5% of total expenditure and in this context, it is important to note that overpayments arising from customers being paid while absent from the state, which also includes Northern Ireland, represents only 3% of overpayment cases raised in any given year.
All overpayments, regardless of the cause of the overpayment, are pursued for full recovery. A social welfare debt will not become statute barred for recovery. It remains with a debtor for all future payments and can be collected thereafter from any remaining estate.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
