Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Thursday, 14 March 2013
Public Accounts Committee
2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 – Social Protection
Chapter 21 – Expenditure on Welfare and Employment Schemes
Chapter 22 – Welfare Overpayment Debts
Chapter 23 – Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Social Insurance Fund – Annual Accounts 2011
12:45 pm
Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source
That brings us back to the discussion on deterrents, on which I understand and accept the Secretary General's point. I am encouraged to note, for example, that the reinstatement rate is high in cases in which the issue is one of medical ineligibility because I often deal with such cases. Generally, these involve an appeals officer making a different decision based on somebody supplying additional information or a person's condition unfortunately deteriorating. This is how the system should work. Reinstatement also makes sense where an error has been made. However, it is striking that nearly half of those who seek to defraud the State by falsely claiming disability allowance receive a payment from the State, despite the authorities being aware that the individuals in question have sought to defraud the State. Does Ms O'Donoghue see where I am coming from?
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