A new face-recognition software has seen at least 135 cases of suspected welfare fraud being alerted to the Department of Social Protection’s investigation unit or to the gardaí.
The department have stated it has saved almost €1.7m as a result already.
A department spokesperson said: “Recorded savings from cessation of related social welfare payments (mainly Jobseekers/ rent supplement) are €375,148. Fraud overpayments of €1,309,698 have or are being assessed in these cases.
“Cogent Facial Image Matching Software involves comparing the photograph captured during the registration process with all photographs held on the department’s database.
“This ensures the individual has not already been registered for a public services card using a different PPS number, or a different identity dataset. This gives an enhanced level of assurance and is a key tool in preventing and detecting identity fraud.”
Judge Melanie Greally, who was hearing a case in Dublin, said: “Persons who think that they will get away with social welfare fraud need to wake up.”