Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As this is mainly a social welfare issue, if officials of the Department of Social Protection are to come before the committee, they must provide information on certain matters. The Department must inform us of how many fraud investigators it has on its books who are carrying out inspections, particularly in the construction sector. Fraud within the social welfare system is something ordinary people want to have investigated. We want people to receive their social welfare entitlements, but fraud also needs to be stamped out. Therefore, in looking at this issue, the Department needs to provide us with a comprehensive, overall view of the position and indicate the number of fraud officers it has.