Welfare fraud initiative unveiled. No Doubt That Will Be The MAJORITY Of TW Immigrants. DRM Ireland

Welfare fraud initiative unveiled

Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton speaks at the launch of the fraud initiative programme today. Photograph: Cyril Byrne/The Irish Times

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DEAGLÁN DE BRÉADÚN, Political Correspondent

Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton today announced a welfare fraud initiative which aims to achieve savings of €625 million next year.
Central to the scheme is a detailed fraud control plan placing greater emphasis on inter-agency co-operation at national and local level.
“Social welfare fraud is often perceived as a victimless crime. But I am conscious that it undermines public confidence in the entire system as well as being unfair to other recipients of social welfare payments and taxpayers and legitimate businesses,” Ms Burton said.
Other aspects of the initiative include greater presence of social welfare inspectors on the ground, targeting sectors where fraud is more likely to occur and examining new ways to recover overpayments.
It also proposes examining increased penalties for those operating in the hidden economy and greater liaison with employers on labour market trends. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0912/breaking38.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter