Pandemic Unemployment Payment claims are currently being checked by a large team of gardai across the country in a battle against social welfare fraud.
A team of more than 20 officers are working with the Department of Social Protection to inspect payments and detect any cases of fraud.
A Department spokesman said: "The Department conducts a series of pre and post payment checks on all PUP claims which include continuing eligibility checks. Subject to these checks being cleared the Department then processes payments based on the clients’ self-declaration.
"The Department runs post payment checks that includes verifying data against Revenue records, examining cases where the same Bank account is used multiple times, examining cases where an employer or members of the public report concerns, and the use of data analytics to identify and check claims. It also undertakes employer inspections.
"This work is undertaken by the Department’s Special Investigation Unit, which includes over 20 Gardaí on secondment to the Department.
"As business re-opens the Department’s inspectors continue to conduct control reviews and matching records against employer payroll data from the Revenue Commissioners to help ensure people close their claim as they return to work. To avoid incurring an overpayment people returning to work should close their claim and can do so easily at www.MyWelfare.ie."
And in addition to the Special Investigation Unit, gardai are participating in joint operations with social welfare inspectors to carry out checks on Irish roads.
Here is everything we know about the checkpoints:
Checkpoint locations
Gardai in Co Kildare have confirmed that multi-agency checkpoints are happening in the county, while inspections took place earlier this week in Co Kilkenny.
Divisional Garda Inspector Paul Donohoe added that inspections had previously been taking place in Co Carlow.
However he also 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. "
