Gardaí investigating what is believed to be an elaborate €1 million to €2 million fraud in the Department of Education are set to interview officials from the Department of Social and Family Affairs as part of their inquiry.
Although there is no suggestion of wrongdoing on the part of any Social and Family Affairs officials - and no investigation is under way in the department - it is understood Fraud Squad detectives need to obtain details on a number of files that travelled through both departments.
It is commonplace for files to have an input from a number of departments, but the Fraud Squad investigation remains focused on the Department of Education branch in Athlone, where some anomalies arose in the past few weeks. Some sources claim the figure defrauded is far in excess of €1 million to €2 million, but the inquiry is hampered by the fact that the central figure died last month after a brief illness.
It is understood the man was denied access to his computer shortly before his death. He died in the Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore, on May 24th. An inquest into his death has not yet taken place.
It is believed the Fraud Squad wants to track the progress of certain files after they were dealt with by the Department of Education, as this may prove critical in unravelling what one source described as "a very sophisticated and professional" operation.
Employees in the section have been told not to talk to anyone about the investigation.