asked the Minister for Social Welfare if it is true that a woman from the fraud office of his Department in Dublin was sent to the Galway labour exchange to interview claimants for unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance; if so, the reason a local officer was not assigned to this task; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Fraud Investigation.
42.
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 41 and 42 together.
An officer from headquarters was not sent to Galway employment exchange for the purposes mentioned. The position is that towards the end of last year an officer was appointed in each of the 13 largest employment exchanges for full time fraud control work. The particular officer appointed in the Galway employment exchange was in fact already serving in that exchange and had served there for the previous four years.
Among the duties of these officers is the interviewing of claimants to confirm that they continue to satisfy the basic requirements of the unemployment schemes namely that they be fully unemployed, are capable of work and genuinely available and seeking employment.
Claimants to be interviewed by the officer in Galway are normally given two days' prior notice. Every effort is made to ensure confidentiality in conducting the interviews, but due to accommodation constraints there is no alternative, at present, to having interviews carried out at hatches. I am having this matter examined further.