A total of 592 cases of benefit fraud were uncovered by the authorities this year, saving nearly €2.4 million to the country's coffers, Social Policy Minister Michael Farrugia announced today.

Addressing the press on the progress made on last year’s budgetary measures, Dr Farrugia said the money saved by tackling benefit fraud would be used to further strengthen “deserved benefits”.

The government will be working with those found guilty of fraud on an agreement to pay back what is owed, but Dr Farrugia said further measures would be taken against those who did not comply.

The minister said the government’s policy was based on the principle that the best way to alleviate poverty was to get people off benefits and back into work.

Statistics showed that the number of people at risk of poverty reduced drastically once people entered the workforce, which also helped their children and ensured that they would have a pension to rely on in future, he said.

Dr Farrugia said the number of people currently on unemployment benefits had been reduced by 351 between January and August of this year. The amount being paid out has been reduced by €200m.

Moreover, a total of 1,503 people are currently benefiting from a ‘tapering’ measure introduced last year, whereby benefits are not stopped immediately once a person enters the workforce.

The government plans to extend the scheme in the next budget to further incentivise employers to hire people who have been out of work for a number of years.