Investigators from the Department of Social Protection are joining multi-agency checkpoints on Cork roads to look out for social welfare fraud.
During one major operation this week, three people were detected working while they were also claiming welfare.
And further operations are expected into the New Year as the Department of Social Protection seeks to use the presence of multi-agency checkpoints as a "deterrent" for those tempted to work and claim at the same time, CorkBeo reports.
The three men were detected at multi-agency checkpoints in West Cork earlier this week that saw Department of Social Protection Officers accompany multiple Gardaí units along with officers from Customs and Revenue, Cork County Council-Environmental Protection Unit and Road Safety Authority Members.
A spokesperson for the Department of Social Welfare told CorkBeo that Multi-Agency checkpoints are seen as both a means of detection and a deterrent in the fight against welfare fraud.
“As part of a number of initiatives to detect and prevent fraud and abuse of the social welfare system, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection participates in Multi Agency Vehicle Checks (MAVCs) on an ongoing basis throughout the country," they said.
"These are set up by the Gardaí and are planned in consultation with the other participating agencies including Revenue, The Road Safety Authority, the Health and Safety Authority and Local Authorities. In addition to the detection aspect they also have an important deterrent effect.
"The main duty of Social Welfare Investigative staff who participate in these checkpoints is the detection and prevention of fraud and abuse of the social welfare system and is provided for in Social Welfare legislation.”
These checkpoints formed a part of the latest phase of Operation Thor involved which involved this multi-agency Day of Action in the Cork West Garda Division recently
Ten arrests were made in relation to recent incidents of assault, theft, possession of drugs, possession of an offensive weapon and on foot of a bench warrant.
