Pearse Doherty
Question:
630. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice the number of incidents of fraudulent insurance claims reported by the insurance industry to An Garda Síochána in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021 by the insurance industry. [8932/21]
View answer
I have requested information from the Garda Commissioner in relation to this matter but unfortunately it was not possible to compile it in the time available.
I will write to the Deputy directly with the information requested, when it is available.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
I refer to Parliamentary Question 630 which was for answer on 17 February 2021 where you asked for the number of incidents of fraudulent insurance claims reported by the insurance industry to An Garda Síochána in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021 by the insurance industry. You will recall that the information could not be obtained in the time available and I undertook to consult with An Garda Síochána and contact you again when the information became available.
The Garda Commissioner has responsibility, by law, for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána and for the allocation of Garda resources, in light of identified operational demands. The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is solely responsible for the allocation of personnel as well as organisational matters including the structure and number of Garda units involved in investigating any given criminal matter, including insurance fraud, and the resourcing of criminal investigations. I am assured that allegations of insurance fraud made to An Garda Síochána are fully investigated by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB).
As you will be aware, Operation Coatee was launched in April 2019, its focus being the prevention of insurance-related fraud and associated crimes on a coordinated basis throughout Ireland. In circumstances where insurance fraud has already occurred, Operation Coatee is designed to maximise the prospect of identifying suspected culprits, and, where possible and appropriate, to initiate criminal proceedings.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the specific incident type of Insurance Fraud was introduced on PULSE from 1 November, 2018. Prior to 1 November 2018, Insurance Fraud reported to An Garda Síochána was recorded under more general fraud incident types.
I am further advised by the Garda authorities that the table included in the attached Appendix sets out the number of fraudulent insurance claims, within the Insurance Fraud incident type, reported to An Garda Síochána since 1 November 2018. The insurance company is the injured party in all of these incidents.
I trust this information is of assistance.
Appendix
The following table contains the number of fraudulent insurance claims, within the Insurance Fraud incident type, reported to An Garda Síochána since 1 November 2018. The insurance company is the injured party in all of these incidents. As the Deputy may be aware, An Garda Síochána Analysis Service does not typically report on details where there are less than 10 incidents in a given area.
|
Year
|
20181
|
2019
|
2020
|
20212
|
|
Fraudulent Claims
|
*
|
63
|
48
|
*
|
|
1 From 1st November 2018 2 Up to 16th February 2021 * Fewer than 10 incidents reported
|
|
|
|
|
Additional Information
Incident counts are based on the date of reporting to An Garda Síochána and were collated based on PULSE data as of 1:30am on the 17th of February 2021. Crime counting rules were applied to data. Figures relate to fraudulent insurance claims only (based on recorded motive details and incident narrative) and do not relate to fraudulent applications for insurance or Ghost Broker incidents.
