Pursuit of dole cheats reinforced by arrest powers
The crackdown follows the release of data by Social Protection Minister Joan Burton yesterday that showed 100 social welfare tourists have been caught at airports since June 2012, saving €1.32m. A further 43 similar investigations are ongoing.
“Up until now, the SIU could question suspected dole cheats but with the addition of the gardaí they will, for example, be able to stop vehicles and arrest those where criminal offences such as identity fraud have been committed,” a spokesperson said.
