€162m cost of welfare fraud

6,007 suspected cases last year.. up 1,000 on 2023

- BY JOHN KIERANS

SOCIAL welfare fraud is still rampant and has cost the State €162million over the last seven years, new data shows.

There were 6,007 suspected fraud cases recorded last year - up almost 1,000 on 2023.

The loss to the Exchequer was €24.3million but over half was subsequently recovered.

This included some amounts nicked from previous years.