The Department of Social and Family Affairs managed to claw back almost €300 million from social welfare fraudsters in 2002. Most of the money came from false dole claims.
The Department investigated more than 90,000 cases of suspected unemployment benefit fraud last year and retrieved €118.5 million from those making false claims.
Single parents netted the Department its next highest saving of €75 million. Those falsely claiming illness payments brought in €50 million.
