Public services cards detect 80 suspected welfare fraudsters

The Department of Social Protection is investigating 80 cases of suspected identity fraud uncovered through the use of controversial public services cards (PSCs).

The department has issued nearly three million cards at a cost of around €60 million but has to date stopped just €3 million in overpayments after finalising 64 cases of identity fraud, with a further €400,000 in future savings estimated.

In total, the department says it has identified 164 cases ...