Róisín Shortall
Ceist:555. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of his anti-fraud publicity campaign. [19770/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraDepartmental Expenditure
Ceisteanna (555, 556, 570, 600)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:556. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the savings targets for his anti-fraud campaign. [19772/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Denise Mitchell
Ceist:570. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection the funding allocated to the publicity campaign to tackle welfare fraud launched on 18 April 2017; the timeline of this particular campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19993/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Clare Daly
Ceist:600. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost to his Department of the recently launched welfare fraud campaign, including all costs for public advertising related to the campaign. [20472/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 555, 556, 570 and 600 together.
The Department administers over 70 separate schemes and services, which affect the lives of almost every person in the State. In 2016, some 1.7 million applications for benefit, assistance and access to schemes were received and processed and over 82 million individual payments were made to people across all age groups and to employers. The scale of its operations and expenditure demand that a robust and integrated range of control and anti-fraud measures are in place. Measures to prevent and detect fraud and enhance controls across the Department’s various schemes are set out in the Compliance and Anti-Fraud Strategy which covers the period 2014 – 2018.
In 2016, the Department achieved overall savings of €506m as a result of control and anti-fraud measures. This reflects nearly 950,000 reviews of individual claims undertaken by the Department last year to determine on-going entitlements.
The “Welfare cheats cheat us all” publicity campaign is designed to:
- Promote discussion on the topic of social welfare fraud and challenge the perceptions of those who see it as a victimless crime;
- Encourage reporting of suspected/known social welfare fraud. The “direct marketing” element of the campaign appeals to the public to report fraud and makes is easier for them to do so. It also affords an opportunity to increase awareness of the Department’s fraud reporting contact numbers and online reporting options;
- Demonstrate that the Government and Department takes the issue of social welfare fraud very seriously and that it will investigate and prosecute, where this is found to be warranted; and
- Demonstrate that the Department is very conscious of its obligations, as one of the largest spending Departments in the State, and the importance of protecting the integrity of the social welfare system.
The delivery of the campaign will achieve a balance of coverage across all demographics and regions and incorporate print, national and regional radio stations, digital and outdoor advertising. The national and regional radio, print and outdoor advertising will run for a period of two weeks, with a longer timeframe of 4 to 6 weeks for digital/online advertising. The cost of the advertising campaign is €165,988 excluding VAT. It includes all design and advertising costs associated with the campaign (print advertising, national and regional radio advertising, outdoor and online/digital advertising). No additional costs arise in staff resources, website development or the provision of the telephone reporting facility.
The Department has set no specific savings targets for this campaign. An overall savings target of €510 million has been set for 2017 and additional reporting from members of the public will support the Department in achieving this target. Some 500 reports were received in the first week after I launched the campaign on 18th April. This represents more than double the number of reports received in the same week in 2016 and a 70% increase in the number received in the first week of April this year.
Question No. 557 answered with Question No. 547.
Disability Allowance Applications
Ceisteanna (558)
John McGuinness
Ceist:558. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for disability allowance by a person (details supplied); and if changes have been made to the means test to allow the person to qualify. [19777/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The application for disability allowance (DA) from this gentleman was refused as he was deemed to have means in excess of the statutory limit for his circumstances.
The person in question appealed this decision to the social welfare appeals office. Following due consideration, the appeal was disallowed by an appeals officer (AO). The decision of an AO is final and conclusive in absence of any fresh facts or evidence.
Any changes to the disability allowance means assessment would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context. In this regard, there are currently no plans to change the means assessment in relation to the assessment of private pensions.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Fraud Investigations
Ceisteanna (559)
David Cullinane
Ceist:559. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of allegations of social welfare fraud recorded by his Department in each of the years from 2006 to 2016; the number of investigations that arose out of those allegations in each of the years from 2006 to 2016; the number of cases of allegations of welfare fraud that were investigated and found to have been instances of welfare fraud in each of the years from 2006 to 2016; the number of cases of allegations of welfare fraud that were not instances of welfare fraud in each of the years 2006 to 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19794/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Reports from members of the public on their suspicions of social welfare fraud or wrongdoing are an important element in my Department’s overall efforts to prevent and detect fraudulent activity. Welfare fraud can be reported in a variety of ways. The Department provides a dedicated service on its website to enable reports to be made. A concerned member of the public can also write to the Department or telephone with information.
The highest proportion of reports processed in recent years relate to jobseekers payments, supplementary welfare allowance and one parent family payments highlighting suspicions about suspected cases of working and claiming, co-habitation and non-residency.
The Department is not able to make use of all the information it receives. This is often the case where insufficient information is provided to identify a person or the person might not be in receipt of a social welfare payment. In addition, there are many situations where the information provided about a person may not constitute fraud and may already be known or may be permitted under the terms of a particular scheme.
The number of allegations of social welfare fraud recorded as received in the Department in each of the years from 2006 to 2016 and the number referred for investigation is set out in the table.
TABLE: Reports of suspected social welfare fraud from members of the public received and referred for investigation 2006-2016
|
Year |
Reports Received |
Of reports received – number referred for investigation |
|
2006* |
580 |
Data not compiled |
|
2007* |
604 |
|
|
2008* |
1,044 |
|
|
2009 |
6,429 |
|
|
2010 |
12,648 |
9,958 |
|
2011 |
16,917 |
12,881 |
|
2012 |
23,868 |
18,306 |
|
2013 |
20,120 |
15,431 |
|
2014 |
18,866 |
14,882 |
|
2015 |
16,456 |
11,685 |
|
2016 |
18,744 |
15,162 |
* Data for 2006 to 2008 was not compiled in the same manner as in later years.
Each report receives a preliminary examination for relevance and to identify the persons concerned and if they are in receipt of a social welfare payment. Where a person can be identified and sufficient information is provided to warrant a further examination, the report is referred to the relevant scheme area in the Department, to a Social Welfare Inspector for further investigation or to the Special Investigations Unit for more serious allegations. A payment is not suspended or stopped on the basis of the report received – instead this happens when evidence of wrong-doing has been ascertained by the appropriate scheme area.
All reports are received on an anonymous and confidential basis. To preserve the integrity of the public’s reporting system, the Department does not track the outcome of the individual allegations of wrongdoing received. However, internal assurance checks by the Department indicates that around 1 in 3 reports received results in the payments being made to individuals being reduced or terminated.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Fraud
Ceisteanna (560, 561, 562, 571, 599)
David Cullinane
Ceist:560. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of cases of persons using makeup in order to claim welfare payments illegally in each of the years 2006 to 2016 respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19795/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraDavid Cullinane
Ceist:561. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of cases of people using false beards in order to claim welfare payments illegally in each of the years 2006 to 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19796/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraDavid Cullinane
Ceist:562. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Social Protection the manner by which the use of a false beard in order to claim a welfare payment illegally is officially recorded by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19797/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraDenise Mitchell
Ceist:571. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of cases in 2016 in which persons have been detected using disguises to impersonate others and fraudulently claim social welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19994/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraClare Daly
Ceist:599. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons reported and charged with making fraudulent claims for social protection payments by disguising their identity with beards or makeup; and the number of these alleged frauds that were reported to An Garda Síochána for each of the years 2014 to 2016. [20471/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 560 to 562, inclusive, 571 and 599 together.
As part of the rollout of the Public Services Card (PSC), my Department introduced facial recognition software in March 2013 to support its efforts to combat identity fraud and impersonation. This software is used to ensure that multiple or fraudulent identities can be detected at the point where a person registers for a personal public services number (PPSN) or a PSC. The software utilises a biometric template of a human face digitised from a photograph. The system identifies a person by measuring certain structural features of their face and comparing these with other identity records maintained by the Department. Every new photograph captured by the PSC process is compared with all other photographs on the database. This ensures that an individual has not already been registered for a PSC using a different identity.
Where there is suspicion that a person has attempted to gain a PSC where a Card has already been issued to a person matching the same facial profile, the matter is referred to the Department’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) to make further enquiries and to refer the matter to An Garda Síochána for investigation and prosecution under the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001, as appropriate.
The Deputies should note that as of 25 April 2017, 155 suspected cases of identity fraud have been referred to the SIU and/or An Garda Síochána. These cases are at various stages of investigation. Successful prosecutions have been finalised in court in 21 cases, with 18 people receiving custodial sentences.
Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications
Ceisteanna (563)
Robert Troy
Ceist:563. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if a domiciliary care allowance can be expedited for a person (details supplied). [19801/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
This lady applied for domiciliary care allowance in respect of her child on the 9th October 2015. The application was not allowed as it was considered that the child did not meet the eligibility criteria for the allowance. A letter issued on 6th January 2016 outlining the decision in this case.
An appeal was lodged against this decision and as part of that appeal process, a review of the decision was undertaken by a deciding officer who upheld the original decision. The application was forwarded to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) for the appeal to be processed and she was advised on the 21st June 2016 that the appeal against the decision had not been allowed.
A request for a further review of the original decision along with additional information on this child’s condition/care needs was received on 10th February 2017. This has been forwarded to a Medical Assessor for their professional opinion. Upon receipt of the Medical Assessor’s opinion, the case will be further examined by a deciding officer, who will revise the original decision if warranted. In the interest of fairness to all claimants, reviews are processed in date of receipt order. Currently, it can take up to 14 weeks to complete a review.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Treatment Benefit Scheme
Ceisteanna (564)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:564. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a contribution towards the costs of a hearing aid under the treatment benefit scheme will be given to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19807/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The person concerned is qualified for treatment benefits and will be entitled to a contribution towards the cost of a hearing aid. An application form for this benefit has not yet been received from him, but can be obtained from any audiologist.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. If you require any further assistance on this query please do not hesitate to contact my office.
Question No. 565 answered with Question No. 547.
Social Welfare Payments Administration
Ceisteanna (566)
Noel Grealish
Ceist:566. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection the legislation in place in 1984 regarding married women signing for credits. [19934/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I understand the Deputy’s question relates to the position of married women signing for credits in 1984.
The purpose of PRSI credits is to secure the social welfare benefits and pensions of PRSI contributors by covering gaps in insurance on the occasions where they are not in a position to make contributions, e.g. periods of unemployment, illness etc.
The Social Welfare (Contributions) Regulations 1953 (S.I. No. 5 of 1953) (as amended) was the relevant Statutory Instrument governing PRSI contributions in 1984. These Regulations were superseded by the Social Welfare (Consolidated Contributions and Insurability) Regulations 1996 (S.I.No.312 of 1996). The 1953 Regulations did not prevent married women from signing for credits.
Credits would generally only have been available to persons who were available for and genuinely seeking full-time work.
If there is a particular case which relates to the Deputy’s question, he could provide details to my Department who will investigate the issue.
Disability Allowance Applications
Ceisteanna (567)
John McGuinness
Ceist:567. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a disability allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will expedite the response or provide an oral hearing. [19941/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Following a review of the entitlement to disability allowance (DA) of this lady, payment stopped as she was deemed to have means in excess of the statutory limit. Notification of this decision issued to her on 22 February 2017. She was also advised of her right to seek a review and/or appeal that decision. To date no such request has been received.
DA is a means tested scheme and the way means are assessed is laid down in social welfare legislation. In summary any income, with some exceptions, belonging to the person and his/her spouse, partner or co-habitant is assessable as means for disability allowance purposes. It is the nature of means tested schemes that there is no entitlement to a payment once means exceed a given amount. There is no discretion allowed as deciding officers are obliged to follow the legislation when assessing means.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Disability Allowance Applications
Ceisteanna (568)
Pat Breen
Ceist:568. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a disability allowance for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19946/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I confirm that my Department received an application for disability allowance from this gentleman on 21 March 2017. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
The processing time for individual disability allowance claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Appeals
Ceisteanna (569)
Timmy Dooley
Ceist:569. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the relevant papers requested for an appeal lodged on 22 November 2016 have not been forwarded to the appeals office despite numerous requests for same; the reason for his Department's delay in making a submission to the appeals office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19975/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The appeal of the person in question was delayed due to an administrative oversight. However this has now been rectified and the file has been sent to the Social Welfare Independent Appeals office. The delay in processing this appeal is regretted.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Question No. 571 answered with Question No. 560.
Question No. 570 answered with Question No. 555.
Social Welfare Fraud
Ceisteanna (572)
Denise Mitchell
Ceist:572. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of fraud reports received by his Department in 2016; the number of these reports which resulted in social welfare payments being ceased; the number of these cases in which prosecutions for fraud were brought against persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19995/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Reports from members of the public on their suspicions of social welfare fraud or wrongdoing are an important element in the efforts to prevent and detect fraudulent activity. Welfare fraud can be reported in a variety of ways. The Department provides a dedicated service on its website to enable reports to be made.
In 2016, 18,744 reports were received and of these, 15,162 were referred for further investigation. The highest proportion of reports processed in recent years relate to jobseekers payments, supplementary welfare allowance and one parent family payments highlighting suspicions about suspected cases of working and claiming, co-habitation and non-residency.
Each report receives a preliminary examination for relevance and to identify the persons concerned and if they are in receipt of a social welfare payment. Where a person can be identified and sufficient information is provided to warrant a further examination, the report is referred to the relevant scheme area in the Department, directly to a Social Welfare Inspector, or to the Special Investigations Unit for more serious allegations. A payment is not suspended or stopped on the basis of the report received but when evidence of wrong-doing has been ascertained by the appropriate scheme area.
All reports are received on an anonymous and confidential basis. To preserve the integrity of the public’s reporting system, the Department does not track the outcome of the individual allegations of wrongdoing received or any review or investigation. Therefore, it is not possible to say how many of the cases reported are subsequently prosecuted.