Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 April 2024
409. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons prosecuted for social welfare fraud in the years of 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17626/24]
View answerThe majority of people in receipt of a payment from my Department receive what they are entitled to. Nevertheless, my Department recognises that abuse of the welfare system is an on-going reality and must be tackled proactively. The Department’s anti-fraud and control measures are designed to prevent and detect fraud, ensure effective oversight of schemes, pursue the prosecution of offenders where appropriate and recover any overpaid entitlements identified.
Where we find suspected fraudulent activity, each individual case is examined and the Department then decides on a relevant course of action, up to and including prosecution, if so warranted.
Criminal cases are in the main referred to the Chief State Solicitor’s Office (CSSO) for summary prosecution under Social Welfare legislation. Cases may also be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for prosecution under Criminal Justice legislation. The investigation, consideration and referral of these cases continues throughout the year on an ongoing basis and for that reason, as well as the legal process, cases are unlikely to be finalised within the same calendar year.
Table 1 sets out the number of criminal cases referred to the CSSO and DPP for prosecution and the number of prosecutions finalised before the Court in 2023 & 2024.
Table 1:
|
Year |
Number referred to CSSO |
Number referred to DPP |
Number of Prosecutions finalised in Court |
|
2023 |
91 |
31 |
80 |
|
2024* |
23 |
11 |
17 |
*to end March
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
