Vol. 472 No. 3
241 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of prosecutions processed by the courts to date in 1996 in relation to social welfare fraud; the number of cases in which convictions were obtained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23359/96]
The number of prosecutions processed by the courts to date in 1996 is 58. Convictions were obtained in 53 of these cases. All cases involving fraud or abuse of the social welfare system are examined with a view to initiating legal proceedings. The decision as to whether to institute proceedings in any particular case can depend on a number of factors such as the duration of the offence, the amount of the relevant overpayment, any mitigating circumstances and the deterrent effect that a prosecution may have on offenders of the social welfare system.
