Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Although it is not exactly related, I have been told, as a public representative - I am sure it has been said to others also - that a person may know somebody taking a training course and although the person does not attend, he or she is receiving the allowance. The people involved might declare themselves sick, for example. This has certainly been raised as an issue during the years. Are there checks to ensure there is no abuse of the system? In some cases, a person might receive more than he or she receives in social welfare. Are there checks to ensure the allowances are spent in such a way that we can ensure people are genuinely attending courses?