Fighting benefit fraud

The editorial Keeping Strict Vigilance Against Fraud (April 7) highlights the abuse that exists in the welfare system. I fully concur that Minister John Dalli's stated plan of action to check this abuse in the payment of benefits makes a great deal of sense.

There is, however, an inaccuracy in the editorial. Benefit fraud investigations saved the government €10.5 million in the last three years and not, as stated, in the last year.

It would be remiss not to refer to the radical changes in the system of Invalidity Pension, a benefit renowned for abuse, piloted in Parliament by the Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity, Dolores Cristina. This was approved in Parliament together with the setting up of the Directorate for Benefit Fraud, which gave new powers to investigators and resulted in savings of €3.5 million in 2007.

Benefit fraud needs to be eradicated in that it is unacceptable that taxpayers' money which should go towards helping the most vulnerable finds its way into the pockets of those who are not eligible and not in need.