Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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229. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of members of An Garda Síochána who have been seconded to her Department in the investigations unit. [31486/15]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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230. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the location of the offices to which the members of An Garda Síochána have been seconded to her Department [31487/15]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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231. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on members of An Garda Síochána being present at routine interviews with recipients of payments. [31488/15]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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232. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the length of time the secondment of members of An Garda Síochána to her Department will continue. [31489/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 229 to 232, inclusive, together.

The secondment of 20 Gardaí to the Department to assist the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) with fraud investigation work took effect in early December 2014. The locations where Garda personnel have been assigned are set out below:

The function of any Gardaí assigned to the SIU is to investigate social welfare fraud. Garda officers who have been seconded to the Department have been duly appointed as Social Welfare Inspectors with powers provided under the Social Welfare Acts. They work with officers from the SIU and undertake a range of investigative duties that can, on occasion, include reviews of eligibility to entitlement. Their role is consistent with the functions already performed by Inspectors in the SIU.

Social welfare entitlements are based on statutory schemes and any withdrawal of these payments following any review has to be based on facts and evidence. In instances where a decision to disallow a social welfare claim occurs then that person has a right of appeal to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office. The seconded officers are actively engaged in the detection and prosecution of more serious cases of identity fraud or multiple claiming of social welfare payments. A number of successful prosecutions have already been secured through the courts.

The period of secondment is for 12 months. A review of this secondment is currently being undertaken by the Department, An Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice & Equality. This review will determine the future of the programme.