Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Department of Social Protection receives reports of possible fraud from members of the public in relation to the operation of its schemes. A dedicated phone number and a facility on the Department’s website are available for this purpose.

The following are the number of anonymous reports received in the Department’s Control Division in the period 2011 to 2014 (Jan-Oct):

-	2011	2012	2013	2014 (Jan-Oct)
Total	16,917	28,022	24,720	16,359

All anonymous or confidential reports are examined and, where relevant, are referred to scheme areas or Inspectors for follow-up action. A payment is not suspended or stopped on the basis of an anonymous report however the report may “trigger” a review of a customer’s entitlement. Anonymous reports are not available to Deciding Officers when they are making their decisions on cases. The Deciding Officer’s decision must be based on the full facts and circumstances of the case. As anonymous reports are used merely to “trigger” or instigate investigations, but do not form any part of the evidence and are not taken into account when the review of the customer’s payment is being decided, therefore detailed statistics on the outcomes of anonymous reports are unavailable.

It should be borne in mind that while there is often a perception of fraud, when a case is examined the individual may be doing something that is allowed under the rules of the particular payment that they receiving e.g. working and receiving a One Parent Family Payment, provided earnings are within the limits and the Department is aware of the situation, is legitimate.