LEO’S WELFARE FRAUD CLAIMS ‘DON’T ADD UP’
Sinn Fein td slams ‘unfounded’ €200k drive to net cheats
ONLY a single case of suspected identity fraud has been identified in the social welfare system this year, it has emerged. Sinn Fein’s Denise Mitchell revealed the figure and said the Department of Social Protection has no record of people using disguises to make false claims. The Social Protection spokeswoman and party colleague David Cullinane submitted questions after the launch of Minister Leo Varadkar’s welfare fraud crackdown. Last month he vowed to use facial recognition software, along with the monitoring of social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter, to combat the issue. Mr Varadkar said the technology could be used to pick out people “putting on make-up and beards” or even “doppelgangers”. Welfare Cheats Cheat Us All, which cost just over €200,000, was variously described as “ludicrously childish”, “fraudulent advertising” and a “hate campaign”. Ms Mitchell said: “It is extraordinary the Social Protection Minister could take to the national airwaves and start waffling about people wearing false beards and make-up to fraudulently claim welfare payments when the department has no records to back up these assertions. “On top of that, the department has confirmed there has only been one suspected case of identity fraud so far this year. The reply from the department also outlines how the facial recognition software used by the department would not be compromised by fake beards or make-up. “Leo Varadkar attempted to whip up a frenzy claiming people in disguises were defrauding the State. “The figures show more focus should be spent on tackling overpayments in the system – which is where the real loss to the taxpayer occurs.” The parliamentary request sought information on the number of people using make-up and/or false beards to make false claims from 2006 to 2016. His reply noted that from March 2013 – when facial recognition was introduced – to April 25 this year, 155 suspected identify frauds have been referred to the Special Investigations Unit and/or gardai.
Leo tried to whip up a frenzy claiming people in disguises were defrauding the State SINN fein’s Denise mitchell dublin YESTERDAY