€673m in Social Welfare Overpayments Sparks Calls for Stronger Anti-Fraud Measures
Dublin: Fine Gael TD John Paul O’Shea has urged the Department of Social Protection to strengthen its Compliance and Anti-Fraud Strategy after revealing that over €673 million in welfare overpayments were made between 2018 and 2023, affecting more than 437,000 recipients.
Figures show 2,171 individuals received overpayments exceeding €50,000, while over 30,990 people on Jobseeker’s Allowance have been unemployed for more than two years despite near-full employment.
The department said overpayments represent less than 0.5% of total expenditure and confirmed €480 million has been recovered. In 2024, 685,000 control reviews saved €610 million, with a target of 713,500 reviews and €655 million in savings set for 2025.
Officials insist robust verification and recovery measures remain a priority, alongside efforts to move recipients into work or training.
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