The Garda, in conjunction with my Department, and the Departments of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Environment and Local Government, and the Customs and Excise division of the Revenue Commissioners, have carried out ten multi-agency operations. These involved 19 checkpoints in seven counties as follows: Dublin, 5; Kildare, 2; Wicklow, 1; Monaghan, 1; Cavan, 2; Louth, 4; and Meath, 4.
In all, a total of 1,846 vehicles were checked and 118 fraudulent claims, involving mainly working and claiming unemployment payments, were discovered, resulting in savings of some £360,000. In addition, note was taken of a significant number of cases where subsequent inspections were warranted or other reviews of entitlement required investigations.
A number of cases involving persons from Northern Ireland are also being followed up through the normal liaison arrangements with the social security agency there. In addition, a number of road traffic, road transport and customs offences have been detected.
Detailed information in relation to each person checked is not available.