€15M BILL FOR BENEFITS WRITE-OFFS

THE taxpayer has been left to foot the bill for more than €15million worth of incorrect welfare payments over the past two years.

- BY KEN FOXE

A total of €7.97m in benefits were written off last year, up more than €300,000 on the equivalent figure of €7.64m from 2023.

The Department of Social Protection said overpayments of welfare were written off partially or in full - when there was "no prospect of future recovery" of the cash.