I find the general consensus on this thread a wee bit depressing. I hope it is not representative of the population at large, but rather suspect that it is.
When we hear people saying that there are not enough guards "on the beat", it is usually in tandem with a demand for more "community policing".
Well guess what folks, you are all members of the community. If a community makes a habit of ignoring crime, those who purport to represent that community have little right to complain about the state not doing enough.
And no, before anybody asks, I don't report every crime I see. My particular contribution is dangerous driving, and I would probably phone garda stations once or twice a year to report particularly severe incidents (I always ask the guard to have a word with the offender, but make it clear that I will give a statement if they wish to prosecute. No prosecutions ever, but I am happy enough that a few coughs get softened). I also phone local authorities to report dangerous items\water leaks and such like. It is not much, I know, but if everybody did a little, that is all it would take.
Regarding the particular incident in this case, I broadly agree with the dept of S.W. policy (or at least with their general conduct, even if it is not an explicit policy). Old people can be odd about money. They might have lots, but manage to convince themselves that they are poor. It can be disportionately traumatic to them to be subject to withdrawal of benefits or investigation. All in all, I think the right policy is to go fairly softly while a pensioner is alive, but to always seek to recover overpayments after death.