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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 27 Apr 1989

Vol. 389 No. 3

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Fraud.

34.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of employers and others against whom legal proceedings were initiated in relation to welfare fraud during the past 12 months; if he will specify the outcome of the proceedings in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

During the 1988 calendar year, the latest date for which figures are readily available, 351 prosecutions under the Social Welfare Acts were finalised in Court. Convictions resulted in 273 of these cases. The Deputy will, no doubt, understand that as a result of the normal delay inherent in Court proceedings some of these cases finally dealt with by the Courts in 1988 would have been first presented in 1987 or possibly earlier. Some 120 cases have been sent for prosecution to the Chief State Solictor's office so far in 1989. However, no details are available of the number of these that have been presented in court or of the outcome.

The prosecutions arise from the extensive control measures exercised by my Department as a result of which breaches of the legislation are detected. I see no real alternative to prosecutions in these cases if, in the long term, compliance with the law is to be secured and abuse of the social welfare system is to be effectively combatted.

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