Figures released by the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Seamus Brennan, reveal that 1,313 fraudulent social welfare claims have been terminated since the launch of Operation Gull two years ago.

New figures show that 234 social welfare claims were terminated in 2004, rising to 591 in 2005. From January to the end of September this year, 488 claims were terminated.

The department estimates that this has saved 6.4m.

The operation, carried out jointly by the Garda National Immigration Bureau, social welfare inspectors and the UK Immigration Service, was established in 2004 to tackle cross-border social welfare fraud. The operation targets people working or living in Northern Ireland or Britain who continue to claim social welfare in the Republic.

The operation has mainly focused on non-Irish nationals who take advantage of the common travel area between the Republic and the UK by claiming benefits in both jurisdictions. In many cases, people are claiming welfare payments in the Republic despite living in Northern Ireland or Britain.

These payments, paid directly into their bank accounts, are then accessed abroad from ATM machines.

Officials and gardai have managed to terminate fraudulent claims by carrying out co-ordinated checks at ports and airports in the Republic and Northern Ireland. Many of those found to be claiming social welfare fraudulently were claiming payment despite not living in the jurisdiction, or else claiming payments for children no longer living with them.

When Operation Gull was launched in 2004, just one social welfare inspector was assigned to assist the Garda National Immigration Bureau.

However, the operation was expanded in August of this year and a second inspector was assigned.

Speaking in the Dail on the matter, Seamus Brennan said the success of the operation showed the benefits of interagency co-operation between Ireland and Britain. The Irish and British authorities now have access to each other's immigration databases, making it easier to detect those claiming social welfare payments in both jurisdictions.