Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 109: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of Operation Gull aimed at curbing cross-Border social welfare fraud. [31739/06]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 162: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the levels of welfare fraud detected by Operation Gull; the efforts his Department is making to combat same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31823/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 162 together.

Operation Gull is a joint control exercise undertaken periodically at Airports and Ports in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain and the operations involve personnel from the Garda National Immigration Bureau, my Department and the United Kingdom Immigration Service.

A Social Welfare Inspector was assigned to the Garda National Immigration Bureau in July 2004 to assist my Department and the Bureau in the investigation of social welfare fraud and breaches of the Immigration Acts, to provide information and intelligence and to promote the benefits of a multi-agency approach to immigration and employment law enforcement. A second inspector was assigned to the Bureau in August, 2006.

There are no figures available for savings specifically due to Operation Gull. However the work of the Social Welfare Inspectors assigned to the Garda National Immigration Bureau resulted in the termination of 234 social welfare claims in 2004 which achieved savings of €1.46 million, the termination of 591 social welfare claims in 2005 which achieved savings of €2.47 million and the termination of 488 social welfare claims in 2006 (to end September) which achieved savings of €2.51 million. Operation Gull is an example of the benefits of inter agency co-operation and my Department will continue to support such operations in every possible way.