The Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs recorded £22.4 million in welfare overpayments last year, of which slightly more than half was attributed to fraud. Officials identified 15,094 individual cases of fraud or suspected fraud, amounting to a £12.09 million. This compared with 14,193 cases and £10.7 million in 1998.
A total of 338 cases was forwarded to the Chief State Solicitor's Office for prosecution during 1999, well up on the 243 cases in 1998. Prosecutions finalised last year involved 107 welfare recipients and 37 employers. Jail sentences were handed out to 15 social welfare recipients (nine had their terms suspended) while a further nine were given community service. No employer was jailed.