asked the Minister for Social Welfare if information can be obtained by his Department from the British Department of Health and Social Services on Irish citizens resident in Britain who may be claiming allowances for but not supporting their dependants in Ireland; and, if so, if this liaison is availed of.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Welfare Claims.
74.
The operation of the EEC regulations requires that information as to dependants and, of course, other matters pertaining to entitlement to benefits and pensions be freely available to the member states concerned. There is specific provision requiring a member state to assist another member state which proposes to take action against a person who has received benefits which were not due to him.
As the Deputy will, I am sure, appreciate, if an Irish citizen resident in Great Britain makes a claim for dependants in Ireland, the question of exercising a check as to the correctness of such a claim would be a matter for the British Department of Health and Social Security. My Department would, of course, co-operate by providing any necessary information requested.