Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 399: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she would consider, with her EU colleagues, the design and adoption of a system whereby member states could share information on payments and claims being made by citizens in an effort to detect persons who are claiming welfare payments in more than one member state or persons who are employed in one member state while claiming in another, in an effort to tackle social welfare fraud on an EU basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11365/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The social security rights of people moving around the EU are governed by EU Regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009. These Regulations, which have been in existence in one form or another since 1959, are designed to co-ordinate the social security systems of the various Member States so that people and their families are not disadvantaged when they move within the EU.

There is a general duty on Member States to co-operate with one another to ensure the effective implementation of the Regulations. This entails Member States exchanging information on an on-going basis in relation to insurance records and benefits in payment so that the entitlements of migrant workers under EU regulations can be assessed. To date, this has been largely paper-based but the EU is, in cooperation with the Member States, currently developing a computerised system to support these information exchanges.

The target date for having the system fully operational in all Member States is May 2014. It is expected that the system will streamline the exchange of information thereby ensuring a more speedy payment of benefits to those in cross-border situations. The EU is also concerned with minimising the incidence of fraud and error associated with the claiming and payment of benefits across the Union and will consider the role the new electronic system can play in supporting action in this area.

Currently, there is provision in the legislation of my Department to allow an Social Welfare Inspector to investigate a claim at the request of the competent authority of another Member State or other country with which a reciprocal agreement has been made. Provision is also made for the transfer of bulk information relating to recipients of social welfare payments to the competent authority of another Member State or other country with which a reciprocal agreement has been made.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 400: To ask the Minister for Social Protection, in view of her recent successes in detecting social welfare fraud, if she will consider the introduction of a reward scheme for information leading to successful prosecutions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11366/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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My Department accepts reports of possible fraud from members of the public in relation to the operation of its schemes and uses both a dedicated phone number and a facility on the Department's website for this purpose. Members of the public are asked to provide as much detail as possible about the case they are reporting and they can do so anonymously.

In 2011, my Department dealt with 16,917 anonymous reports and in approximately 13,000 of these cases, a report of suspected fraud was sent to the relevant area for examination. In roughly 4,000 of the cases received in 2011, it was not possible to issue a report to an investigator due to (i) a lack of information supplied, (ii) a claim not being in payment or (iii) the information reported would not impact on entitlement.

Detailed statistics on the outcomes of anonymous reports are unavailable because anonymous or confidential reports of abuse are used merely to trigger or instigate investigations and are not taken into account when the review of the customer's payment is being decided. In this context the introduction of a reward scheme for information received is not being considered at present. In addition, my Department is very conscious of its obligations regarding data protection and the privacy of its customers and of persons who report allegations of abuse.

As Minister, I am very conscious of the need to protect public money and I am determined to ensure that abuse of the system is prevented and is dealt with effectively when detected.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 401: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she has considered introducing measures that would require airlines serving Ireland to provide details of movements of persons into and out of State to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11367/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The prevention of fraud and abuse of the social welfare system is an integral part of the day-to-day work of the Department. My Department has a wide ranging programme to combat social welfare fraud and abuse. The Fraud Initiative 2011-2013 sets out a range of actions to ensure an integrated approach is taken to the prevention, deterrence and detection of social welfare abuse across the Department's various schemes and services.

In this context, my Department is considering all viable measures that will enhance fraud prevention and detection. The provision of information directly from airlines is one such measure but would necessarily have to be considered in legislative context and in conjunction with those Departments and agencies with primary responsibility for air transport and immigration. The data protection implications of such a measure would also need to be fully considered.

The Department will continue to work closely with other Departments and agencies in the context of any legislative proposals necessary in this area to ensure that any measures are appropriate and proportionate.