John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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210. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons investigated for social welfare fraud since the roll-out of the social welfare fraud campaign; the number of those investigated that were found to be committing fraud; the number of cases found to be in error by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47203/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The social welfare fraud awareness campaign from earlier this year was designed to encourage a discussion and debate about social welfare fraud and to challenge the perceptions of those who see it as a victimless crime, while promoting the Department’s online and telephone fraud-reporting services.

It was also aimed at demonstrating the considerable work undertaken by the Department to deter, prevent and detect fraud through control reviews and investigations of payments to customers. This campaign was also designed:

- To help raise overall awareness of the consequences of welfare fraud and the positive role that can be played by members of the public in supporting the Department in its work; and

- To remind customers to contact the Department if their circumstances change, thereby helping to reduce and prevent customer errors in claims, as well as deliberate fraud.

It is important to note that the advertising campaign commenced in April this year and, therefore, statistics to date would not be indicative of the overall results of the campaign, nor do these statistics alone reflect the complete set of objectives set for the campaign. The success will also be measured by behaviour and attitudinal changes to welfare fraud also and public awareness of fraud reporting services.

The number of reports registered to the end of September stood at just over 16,500, compared to just over 13,900 in the same period last year, an increase of 19% approximately.

It is the policy of my Department to examine all reports of reported suspected fraud and abuse. Of the overall numbers received to end September, close to 14,000 have been examined and following the initial stages of examination, close to 9,000 have been referred for further investigation and appropriate follow-up action.

It is important to note that a payment is not suspended or stopped solely on the basis of a report received. The report provides a “trigger” for the instigation of a review of a specific entitlement and further investigation if that is considered to be warranted.

It is also important to note that 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 and, as a result, statistics are not available on the outcome of anonymous reports. Furthermore, anonymous or confidential reports of abuse do not form any part of the evidence when a case is being considered for prosecution.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.