Irish close in on dole cheat drivers • The Irish
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authorities have copied their UK counterparts by launching an offensive against truck drivers who claim the dole while they are working.
Irish social welfare and income tax inspectors, who recently joined enforcement teams at roadside checks on the Ni north of Dublin, have so far detected 31 suspected cases of social welfare fraud.
A total of 250 drivers were interviewed at a dozen Garda checkpoints. This was a pilot operation for investigations of this kind in Ireland, which now has 600 inspectors involved in fraud investigation.
The Social Welfare Department says the driver check will be repeated throughout the country following the success of the pilot exercise.
The high-profile clampdown on illegal hauliers has brought numerous inquiries to the Transport Department from individuals and companies who want to check that their operations are legal.
This campaign targeted transport managers who hire in hauliers. Inspectors visited firms to remind them that using an unlicensed operator is illegal and carries a fine of up to IR£1,000.
El The Irish Health & Safety Authority will deploy 50 inspectors in an intensive campaign during the first two weeks of June into all aspects of workplace transport.
The inspectors will target traffic control within loading bays, storage yards, truck depots and supermarkets.