asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she is aware that substantial numbers of the employees in gaming halls are people who are receiving unemployment benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Fraudulent Unemployment Benefit Claims.
62.
It is presumed that the Deputy is alleging that there are fraudulent claims to unemployment benefit by employees of gaming halls.
The staff of the Department throughout the country who are engaged in processing claims to unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance carry out special checks on all claims. In addition the special investigation unit of the Department carry out investigations into cases of suspected fraudulent claiming of unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance. These cases are brought to notice by members of the public, by other officers of the Department and the unit comes across them on their own initiative.
Neither the staff engaged in the processing of unemployment claims nor the special investigation unit have come across cases of fraudulent claims by employees of gaming halls. However, if the Deputy has any information on fraudulent claims, he should forward it to the Department.