Welfare cheats’ names to be published online

The names of convicted welfare cheats are to be published online as part of new measures to combat fraud.

Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty brought the proposals to Cabinet yesterday. The measures would see the names of all those convicted of defrauding the State by more than €5,000 in social welfare benefits published on the Department of Social Protection website.

Separately, Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy brought a memo to Cabinet to provide planning permission extensions to housing developments.