McDowell vows to target immigrants who abuse benefits

IMMIGRANTS abusing state relief will be weeded out, Justice Minister Michael McDowell pledged yesterday.

The Tánaiste was speaking in the wake of new information which revealed a raft of cases where immigrants had falsely claimed thousands of euro worth of benefits like rent relief or social welfare while living in another country.

“I have been aware of other ones (cases) where people have double identities here and in the United Kingdom and people have refugee accommodation here and they were getting rent allowance here by sub-letting their house and working in England. I am aware of cases like that,” the minister said.