Billy Timmins
Ceist:1 Mr. Timmins asked the Taoiseach the plans, if any, the Chief State Solicitor has for his office to sign on to an insurance risk service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17421/98]
Ceisteanna—Questions. - Insurance Link Scheme.
The insurance link scheme is a database compiled from information supplied by the commercial insurance companies and other subscribers to the scheme. Many insurance companies, local authorities and some semi-State bodies are currently subscribing to the scheme, the aim of which is to reduce the number of fraudulent claims by allowing members to share information on previous claims.
The Chief State Solicitor's Office is considering joining the scheme and has consulted with Departments to ascertain their views on the matter. Arising from this process, a number of legal issues need to be considered. When this consideration is complete a decision will be made regarding membership of the scheme.
I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. Have the Government and the Department of Finance, in particular, an estimate for the amount of fraud carried out in this way against the State and State agencies?
I do not have any figures and am not too sure if the Department of Finance has any. I have seen, as the Deputy would have, estimates by local authorities on this matter which are quite high. It is a good scheme and as soon as the Chief State Solicitor's Office has gone through the process of consulting with Departments, it will probably join the scheme.