Social Welfare Raids in Letterkenny and Inishowen areas

It’s emerged that Social Welfare and Revenue inspectors have carried out a series of raids in Donegal as part of a clampdown on social welfare fraud announced last week by Minister Joan Burton.
In a statement issued this afternoon, the Department of Social Protection confirmed that Revenue officials and Social Welfare Inspectors from the Department’s Special Investigation Unit visited fast food restaurants and takeaways, bars and building sites in the Inishowen area on Tuesday and in Letterkenny yesterday.
The statement says such operations are being undertaken in line with the new strategic fraud initiative launched by the Minister last month, with what’s described as a revised and renewed approach being taken to the challenges posed by social welfare fraud.
A spokesperson for the Department told Highland Radio News it’s too early to say what, if any, irregularities were uncovered in the Donegal raids, but did confirm that information gained through the operation is being assessed, and investigations are continuing.