Joe Walsh
Question:129 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of successful prosecutions which have taken place in cases of social welfare fraud from 1 January 1996 to date. [17146/96]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Fraud Cases.
A total of 44 social welfare prosecutions were finalised by the courts between 1 January 1996 and 31 August 1996. Of these, 25 were people who were in receipt of payments while 19 were employers. The results were: 23 received fines, five the Probation Act, three community service, eight a suspended sentence, one was bound to the peace, one was imprisoned and three were struck out. In addition, there are 81 social insurance and social assistance cases currently under consideration for prosecution.