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Councillors demand dole fraud clampdown
06.02.09
POLITICIANS in
Inishowen are demanding a clampdown on people from
the North "playing the border" in relation to
welfare fraud.
Fianna Fáil councillors in the peninsula held
meetings last weekend in Muff, Bridgend, Burnfoot,
Fahan and Inch to discuss the national economic
crisis and issues such as cross-border dole
cheating.
And Fine Gael Deputy Joe McHugh has demanded to know
from Social and Family Affairs Minister Mary Hanafin
what she intends to do about the ongoing problem.
Senator Cecilia Keaveney took part in the weekend
meetings with her Fianna Fáil colleagues. She called
for even more co-operation between the welfare
authorities north and south.
"The significantly better social welfare payments
for the unemployed, the elderly and those with young
children (in the Republic) are factual. There are a
lot of people speaking in an anecdotal manner about
cross border exploitation of this situation. |
"I believe that there
is now a much stronger interaction taking place
between the authorities in both jurisdictions. This
co-operation is vital to wipe out fraudulent
claims."
Senator Keaveney said welfare was "a right" for
people who qualify for them.
"However in recent years, we have seen the economic
cost of social welfare fraud of various kinds.
Fraudulent claims, whether cross border or not,
stretch the ability |
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of any government to
target money to those who are most in need.
"I will continue to bring to the attention of
Minister Hanafin and other ministerial colleagues,
the issues of those who are "playing the border" in
not insignificant ways. "Our economy simply cannot
sustain such losses. It was important for me to hear
this issue being raised by members, which adds to
the anecdotal evidence. Facts are of even more
valuable and I do believe that the matter is being
addressed." |
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