Vol. 396 No. 3
57 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Justice the number of prosecutions which were initiated by the Garda in respect of social welfare fraud in each year for which figures are available since 1980; the number of prosecutions which were secured; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that prosecutions are taken by them in respect of social welfare fraud under legislation such as the Forgery Act, 1913, and the Criminal Justice Act, 1951. Statistics in relation to prosecutions in this respect are not readily available and could not be obtained without the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of Garda time and effort.
Legal proceedings in respect of social welfare fraud are also initiated by the Department of Social Welfare under the Social Welfare Acts. Statistics in relation to such proceedings would be a matter for the Minister for Social Welfare.
