Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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639. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons prosecuted for social welfare fraud in 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21993/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department initiates criminal prosecutions against persons who defraud the social welfare system and against employers who fail to carry out their statutory obligations under social welfare legislation.

Cases involving the detection of theft, impersonation, identity fraud or multiple claiming are referred to An Gardaí Síochana (AGS) for investigation and for consideration by the Director of Public Prosecutions for prosecution under criminal justice legislation.

The table below outlines the number of cases submitted by the Department to the Chief State Solicitor's Office (CSSO) for prosecution of offences under social welfare legislation. It also shows cases referred to AGS for investigation of social welfare fraud and consideration of prosecution under criminal justice legislation.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.