Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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129. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the Garda insurance fraud unit will be operational; the remit of the unit; the resources allocated to same; his views on whether this unit is long overdue in view of the number of high-profile cases recently relating to insurance fraud; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21058/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will appreciate that it is the Garda Commissioner who is solely responsible for organisational matters, such as the establishment of individual Garda units, the remits of any such units, and the resourcing of units.

However, as outlined in my response to parliamentary question number 458 of 8 May 2019, the Garda Commissioner is of the view that a divisional focus on insurance fraud is preferable to the establishment of a centralised investigation unit. This approach is aligned with the divisional-focused Garda model. It is the intention of the Commissioner that the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) will guide divisions and provide training in the investigation of insurance fraud.

The Cost of Insurance Working Group (CIWG) specifically called for An Garda Síochána (AGS) to explore the potential for further cooperation between it and the insurance sector in relation to insurance fraud investigation. An industry-funded Garda insurance fraud unit was one option considered in this regard.

While the Commissioner has indicated that he does not support industry funding of Garda units, he is open to considering other industry-funded proposals to combat insurance fraud, for example, IT projects and/or the appointment of analysts. My Department is currently engaging with AGS to this end, exploring these options and any other potential avenues for cooperation with the insurance sector.

On a wider level, much constructive engagement has taken place, including the commitment by AGS and Insurance Ireland’s Anti-Fraud Forum to meet on a regular basis in order to discuss and act upon current and ongoing general issues which arise in the area of insurance fraud.

In relation to the scale of insurance claim fraud reported to AGS, the most recent figures available to the Department show that, in the period 1 October 2018 to 28 February 2019, 22 incidents of ‘insurance claim fraud’ were recorded on PULSE. Please note that this data is correct as at 4 March 2019, however it is operational and therefore subject to change.

I would like to draw the Deputy’s attention to AGS’s Operation Coatee, which targets insurance-related criminality. Last month, the GNECB, supported by Lucan Garda Station, CAB and the Armed Support Units, carried out searches in the west Dublin area with a view to submitting files to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Operation Coatee was successful in making a number of important seizures including documentation and financial records.