Doctors under investigation for false sick notes

Around 128 doctors are being investigated for potentially giving false sick notes to their patients. Doctors get paid €25 million per year for issuing sick certificates to verify that people are unable to work and are entitled to claim social welfare illness payments.

But the Department of Social Protection is now investigating 128 doctors for ''irregularities in their sick certs.

It has already withheld €20,600 in payments for suspect sick certs, and has ...