Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 June 2014
267. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the social media pages of those social welfare payment recipients who are under investigation for benefit fraud or regarding concerns that they are not actively seeking work are regularly monitored by benefit fraud inspectors to assist with any investigations against them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26643/14]
View answerThe Department recognises the popularity and potential value of social media for communicating with customers and acknowledges that these tools can bring benefits. Whilst not a systematic part of the Department's on-going targeted control activities, staff will occasionally refer to social media sites as part of investigations, for example to follow up on reports from members of the public referring to information on various sites.
Staff who have access to social media sites for official purposes are vigilant regarding their use of such sites and ensure that, at all times, their usage is lawful and in keeping with the Department’s policies. Details obtained from social media in these circumstances are examined and, where relevant, may be used as part of an overall investigation. A payment is not suspended or stopped on the basis of social media site posting but the information may be used a part of the evidence gathered to review a customer’s on-going entitlement. It is important to note that in the context of the overall number of control reviews undertaken last year, investigations which refer to social networking sites would have been negligible.
