Brian Walsh (Galway West, Independent)
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178. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of tip-offs received from members of the public relating to suspected cases of fraud in 2014; the number of these that resulted in confirmation of fraudulent activity upon investigation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6660/15]

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

All anonymous or confidential reports are examined and, where relevant, are referred to the Departments sections and/or to Inspectors for potential follow-up action. While a payment is not suspended or stopped on the basis of an anonymous report, the report may “trigger” a review of a customer's entitlement.

Centrally, the Department dealt with 21,088 reports of suspected fraud in 2014. In 14,882 of these cases, a report was sent to the relevant area for examination. In respect of 6,206 reports, it was not possible to pursue these further due to either lack of information, no claim being in payment or the information reported did not impact on entitlement.

Detailed statistics on outcomes from these reports are unavailable because anonymous or confidential reports of abuse are used merely to “trigger” an investigation. They are not taken into account when the review of the customer's entitlement is being decided.