Welfare tourism is not widespread, figures show

Welfare tourism is not as widespread as often reported with just 605 claims made by non-Irish people suspended or terminated last year, official data shows.

The Department of Social Protection also said that while new legislation would give powers to inspectors to detect and combat social welfare fraud and abuse at ports and airports, the laws did not provide for handing over of passenger lists.

In 2011, the department’s special investigation unit conducted 5,062 reviews of claims of foreign nationals and 605 cases were either suspended or terminated as the person was found not to be resident. In 2010, of 4,941 reviews of claims of foreign nationals, 827 cases were either suspended or terminated, yielding savings of €6.75m.