350 social welfare fraud cases prosecuted in 2008
Some 350 cases of social welfare fraud were referred to the State Solicitors' Office for prosecution proceedings in 2008, an increase of 80 cases on the previous year.
Officials from the Department of Social Welfare told the Public Accounts Committee this afternoon that its budget for this year will top €20bn.
They said a total of around 70,000 claims are waiting to be processed as a result of huge pressure on social welfare offices.
The Committee was also told that an extra 250 posts have been allocated to the Department, and that 190 more staff are being assigned to local social welfare offices.
