€75 million worth of social welfare payments were reclaimed from people last year

The money was taken back from 87,000 people who got payments they weren't entitled to. 

The Department of Protection says €6.5 million worth of Pandemic Unemployment Payments were reclaimed. 

Solicitor Jason O'Sullivan says welfare fraud has got worse during the Covid crisis.

"The high level of money recovered by the state due to such overpayment and fraud is indicative of this societal problem. It also highlights the need for the State and our police force to keep investigating and recovering such monies as to deter those who abuse the system and safeguard those who depend upon it."

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