Gardai and social welfare inspectors were checking the eligibility of PUP recipients at a checkpoint in Co Kilkenny on Monday.
And a senior local officer said that the operation was taking place "nationwide" as the Department of Social Protection tries to cut down on fraudulent Pandemic Unemployment Payment claims.
The multi-agency checkpoints have been spotted in a number of counties in recent months.
Officials at these checkpoints are tasked with the "detection and prevention of suspected fraud and abuse of the social welfare system".
The Department said that these checks have taken place for "a number of years", but now include inspecting eligibility for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP).
They added that the main group targeted in these operations are people in the transport sector, such as those on their way to work in "commercial vehicles, haulage and taxis".
Divisional Garda Inspector Paul Donohoe explained that this was a "nationwide operation" as Department of Social Protection officials are searching across the country for any fraudulent activity.
On whether the operations are in place because the Department suspects there is widespread fraud across the country, he told local radio station KCLR: “I think they suspect that there is, I think there have been checkpoints done in other Divisions and that they have come across quite a few people working and making claims fraudulently so it’s kind-of a nationwide operation going on to see if they can cut it out."
And Mr Donohoe said that Monday's checkpoint in Kilkenny was far more complex than standard checkpoints.
He added: “It’s very hard to tell, [inspectors] seem to take a lot of details and then they have to go back to their own offices and departments and then they do their further enquiries so it’s not like us gardaí when we get a detection we know we’ve got a detection there and then.
"The Department of Social Protection has to go back to their offices and do their own bit of paperwork and computer work then check first."
A Department of Social Protection spokesman said: "As part of a number of initiatives to detect and prevent fraud and abuse of the social welfare system, the Department of Social Protection participates in Multi Agency Vehicle Checks (MAVCs) on an ongoing basis throughout the country. These MAVCs have been a feature of the Department’s control strategy for a number of years. In addition to the detection aspect they also provide an important deterrent effect.
"MAVCs are set up by An Garda Síochana and planned in consultation with other participating agencies; the Department, Revenue and Customs. They focus on vehicle tax evasion, road traffic or road safety irregularities, Revenue Customs irregularities or suspected social welfare fraud.
"The timing and location of these checks vary with checks carried out on different days of the week and for different durations.
"The main duty of Social Welfare Investigative staff who participate in these checkpoints is the detection and prevention of suspected fraud and abuse of the social welfare system, including the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and special powers are provided for in Social Welfare Legislation for this purpose
"The focus of such enquiries is generally related to individuals on their way to work including in commercial vehicles, haulage, taxi and the transport sectors. Where enquiries adduce that irregularities have occurred these are pursued by further investigation by the Inspectors. "
