Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

I know it was not and I am sorry. I have a note in front of me, and I just wanted to correct that on the record and confirm that 23,000 certificates have been issued. A detailed check was recently carried out, again, on about 10% of all the different claimants involved. In approximately 3% of cases the information proved either to be incorrect or could not be validated. These claims were, of course, suspended and referred to the social welfare inspectorate for investigation. What I have indicated to Deputy Enright are all the recent cases, particularly as regards the certification process. We must continue to enhance those new ways of doing business, ensuring we can detect where fraudulent claims are being made. As I have said, the significance of the information the Department is now obtaining from abroad is quite substantial. The message going out to the various communities, and indeed, our own, is that it is becoming virtually impossible to get away with sustained fraud within the social welfare system, particularly as it relates to child benefit.

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