Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 section 262A

Offence

Section 262A creates criminal offences for knowingly making false or misleading statements, concealing material facts, or providing false documentation in connection with obtaining a Personal Public Service (PPS) number.

• It is a criminal offence to knowingly make any false or misleading statement — whether oral or written — or to conceal any material fact, for the purpose of obtaining a PPS number.
• It is equally an offence to give, or cause or knowingly allow to be given, any document or information required under Section 262 (or regulations made under it) that is known to be false or misleading.
• On summary conviction, a person found guilty faces a fine of up to €1,500 or imprisonment for up to 6 months, or both.
• On conviction on indictment, the penalties increase to a fine of up to €25,000 or imprisonment for up to 5 years, or both.