FOREIGN NATIONALS are over eight times more likely to attempt fraudulent child benefit claims than Irish-born parents, according to an investigation by the Department of Social and Family Affairs.
Under the random survey, which began in 2004, 500 files of claims from Irish-born parents were compared with 500 from foreign-born parents, the department told The Irish Times yesterday.
In a Dáil reply this week, Minister Martin Cullen said 1.7 per cent of Irish nationals' cases were found to be fraudulent "compared to 13.9 per cent in the case of 500 non-Irish nationals surveyed, giving an overall level of fraud of 2.3 per cent".
The probe was conducted according to rules laid by Comptroller and Auditor General John Purcell to ensure it was "sufficiently large to yield reasonably reliable estimates", and all cases selected were fully investigated.
Under EU law, employees from any member state can claim child benefit in another member state they are working in, even if their children are in their home state.
Last month, it emerged the Department of Social and Family Affairs had late last year ordered non-Irish EU nationals living here and claiming benefit for children living abroad to certify every three months that they are still employed in the State.
Foreign nationals receiving child benefit for children resident here will be required to certify twice a year that they and their children continue to reside here, and provide information about the schools and creches attended.
An investigation was carried out by department inspectors in Co Waterford last year into reports that some Polish nationals were flying in and out of the country in order to claim welfare benefits.
Social welfare officials estimate the cost to the State of paying EU nationals child benefit and the €1,100-a-year childcare supplement for non-resident children will be up to €140 million in 2008.
Meanwhile, the current investigation found 4.7 per cent of disability allowances paid to Irish claimants were fraudulent, while 2 per cent of non-contributory State pensions were improperly claimed.
