John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2098. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons convicted of social welfare fraud in 2016; the number of these convictions that were for amounts (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28731/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Prosecutions are taken against persons who defraud the social welfare payments system and employers who fail to carry out their statutory obligations. The majority of social welfare cases are taken summarily in the District Courts, with more serious cases prosecuted by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on indictment in the Circuit Courts.

In considering cases for legal proceedings, my Department applies the DPP guidelines for prosecutions. During 2016, 130 cases which were prosecuted by my Department under the Social Protection (Consolidation) Act 2005 were finalised by way of a conviction. Table 1 provides a summary of the value of overpayments of social welfare benefit and/or assistance in the cases.

TABLE 1: Value of overpayments in cases finalised in Courts during 2016 where prosecution were taken under the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005

The reference in the table above to the two cases with no overpayments relates to the finalisation of cases involving the conviction of two employers.

The Deputy may also wish to note that a further 36 cases were finalised which resulted in the people concerned receiving the benefit of the Probation Act 1907 for social welfare related fraud offences. Table 2 provides a summary of the value of overpayments of social welfare benefit and/or assistance in these cases.

TABLE 2: Overpayments in cases finalised by way of the application of the Probation Act, 1907

My Department also referred 160 cases to An Garda Síochána in 2016 for investigation in relation to possible offences under the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Acts 2001 and prosecuted by the DPP. Data in respect of overpayments on these cases will be provided separately to the Deputy as soon as possible.