Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has unveiled a fresh strategy aimed at reducing fraud and error within Northern Ireland's benefits system.

Addressing the Assembly, the Minister emphasised that benefit fraud is a crime that directly impacts the most vulnerable members of society by diverting essential resources. He argued that in a climate of tight budgetary constraints, public money must be reserved for critical services such as education, healthcare, and support for the homeless.

The announcement follows the Minister's recent decision to resume the practice of naming individuals convicted of benefit fraud. Minister Lyons stated: "I have taken away a shield of anonymity from those who steal from all of us and the response from the public to shining a light on these stories has been overwhelmingly positive."

A specialist departmental working group, commissioned by the Minister to examine the issue, has provided several recommendations to improve fraud prevention and response times. Under these proposals, the Department for Communities intends to:

• Expand current activities focused on identifying fraud and official errors.

• Enhance specialist training to help staff better detect mistakes and fraudulent claims. • Utilise advanced technology in partnership with the DWP and other government departments to improve investigations.

Boost public awareness to foster a zero-tolerance culture regarding benefit exploitation.

However, the Minister cautioned that the implementation of these measures is dependent on successful funding bids. He stressed that delays in resourcing would leave the system vulnerable and undermine public trust.

Minister Lyons also noted his support for a proposal where HM Treasury would share savings generated from these crackdowns back with the Northern Ireland Executive. He expressed his intention to use such funds to support those facing employment barriers.

"I will seek Executive support for the initial investment and to reinvest the share of savings generated in programmes that support people with barriers to employment, particularly those with disabilities or health conditions.

"This is a key priority for me, as it aligns with Programme for Government goals to reduce economic inactivity, tackle poverty and social exclusion, and support inclusive economic growth across Northern Ireland."

Concluding his statement, the Minister thanked the task group for their work and reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that those who exploit the system face "firm and fair consequences."