Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Feb 1990

Vol. 395 No. 9

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Fraud.

Frank Crowley

Question:

178 Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of persons who were refused social welfare payments last year as a result of his Department's investigations; the number of persons employed to investigate social welfare fraud this year and every year for the past four years; and the amount of money saved as a result.

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods)

Part of the work of my Department consists of ongoing review of entitlements under all social welfare schemes. Some of these reviews are at the request of claimants who feel that they may be entitled to a higher level of payment, while other reviews form part of the Department's ordinary control functions ensuring by way of spot-checks that claimants continue to fulfil the various statutory conditions governing their payments. It is estimated that since 1987, well over £100 million has been saved by various measures to combat fraud, abuse and unwarranted claiming. This year it is estimated that a further £30 million will be saved by measures which help to control abuse.

During 1987, I considered that there was a need for a special effort to combat to a greater extent fraud, abuse and unwarranted claiming of social welfare. There are three special investigation units operating within the Department charged with the task of investigating social welfare fraud in the unemployment payments area. These are the External Control Unit (ECU), the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) and the Joint Investigation Unit (JIU). The latter comprise officers of the Department of Social Welfare and the Revenue Commissioners and investigate both social welfare and Revenue fraud. The SIU and JIU have been amalgamated, with effect from 15 January 1990.

There are, in addition, special officers whose investigative work relates only to the sickness schemes.

The special investigative staff in the unemployment payments and sickness benefit areas in the years 1987 to 1989 was as follows: 97 officers in 1987, 108 officers in 1988 and 104 officers in 1989. Figures are not available on a comparative basis for 1986. Following the amalgamation of the SIU and JIU last month, the number of staff serving in the SIU/JIU was increased, bringing to 119 the number of officers who are involved in special investigation duties during 1990.