asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of cases of fraud under the Social Welfare Act which were investigated in 1985; the number of these cases charged with the offences; the number of these cases tried where convictions were obtained; and the total cost to her Department of those cases of fraud.
Written Answers. - Fraud Prosecutions.
173.
Of the various cases which were the subject of investigations during 1985, it is estimated that some 4,000 of them involved an element of clearly intended fraud and that the total amount of overpayments involved in these cases is in the region of £3 million. These figures are estimates as the final figures have not yet been compiled.
Investigations are still under way in many of these cases. Where sufficient evidence of a kind necessary to sustain prosectution can be acquired and the case is otherwise one which is suitable for prosectuion, the papers are referred to the Chief State Solicitor's office for prosecution before the courts. This is of necessity a lengthy procedure. Over 100 of the cases referred to have been referred to the Chief State Solicitor's office and some 50 prosecutions have already been obtained.
During 1985 as a whole the number of prosecutions for fraud was 187 most of which related to offences detected in 1984. Convictions were obtained in 169 of these cases.