Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 21 Oct 1997

Vol. 481 No. 7

Written Answers. - Asylum Seekers.

Jim Higgins

Question:

36 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of those refused asylum as a result of the Aliens Order, 1997; the country of origin of those who have applied for asylum in 1997; the arrangements, if any, which have been put in place for those seeking asylum; the entitlements of asylum seekers; the estimated cost in this regard to date in 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16942/97]

Louis J. Belton

Question:

49 Mr. Belton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of those refused asylum as a result of the Aliens Order, 1997; the country of origin of those who have applied for asylum in 1997; the arrangements, if any, which have been put in place for those seeking asylum; the entitlements of asylum seekers; the estimated cost in this regard to date in 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16941/97]

Michael Noonan

Question:

97 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of those refused asylum as a result of the Aliens Order, 1997; the country of origin of those who have applied for asylum in 1997; the arrangements, if any, which have been put in place for those seeking asylum; the entitlements of asylum seekers; the estimated cost in this regard to date in 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16939/97]

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

99 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of those refused asylum as a result of the Aliens Order, 1997; the country of origin of those who have applied for asylum in 1997; the arrangements, if any, which have been put in place for those seeking asylum; the entitlements of asylum seekers; the estimated cost in this regard to date in 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16940/97]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 36, 49, 97 and 99 together.

Nobody has been refused asylum as a result of the implementation of the Aliens (Amendment) (No. 3) Order, 1997, which entered into force on 29 June 1997.

In the period up to 16 October some 820 persons were refused permission to land on arrival from Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Of this total, only 22 persons said they were seeking asylum. They were returned to Britain or Northern Ireland, as appropriate, to have their cases processed. This action was in accordance with long held policy that a person should seek asylum in the first safe country reached. The persons concerned obviously arrived from Britain or Northern Ireland where they had an opportunity to lodge asylum claims. Since 1 September such cases fall to be dealt with dealt with in accordance with section 22 of the Refugee Act, 1996.

It has been the general policy of successive Ministers not to disclose information on the nationality of asylum seekers or refugees having regard to the general and understandable desire on the part of individual applicants to ensure that an application for recognition as a refugee is processed in confidence. As the number of applicants of some nationalities is small, it would be relatively easy in some instances to identify particular individuals if nationality statistics were provided. Such identification could have serious implications, particularly if members of an applicant's family are still in the country of origin. However, where there is a significant number of applications from certain countries of origin I am prepared to list those nationalities. The main countries of origin of asylum seekers this year are Romania, Zaire, Nigeria, Algeria, Somalia and Angola — persons stating that they come from these countries account for almost 80 per cent of the applications lodged so far this year.

Applications are considered in accordance with out international obligations — the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, the 1967 New York Protocol thereto, and the 1990 Dublin Convention. The procedure for processing cases has been agreed with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Asylum seekers are referred to the local health board, usually the Eastern Health Board as most asylum claims are lodged in Dublin, where they are paid supplementary welfare allowances and assisted in finding accommodation.

My colleague, the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs has advised me that additional staff, community welfare officers, interpreters and porters, have been allocated to the Eastern Health Board to help deal with the increase in the number of asylum seekers. A specialised reception centre has been set up at James's Street Hospital.

Supplementary welfare allowance legislation provides entitlement to "every person in the State whose means are insufficient to meet his needs ." (s. 171 Social Welfare Consolidation Act, 1993). There is no residence condition in the legislation, and presence in the State is sufficient to receive a payment regardless of immigration status. Accordingly, asylum seekers qualify for SWA. A single person may qualify for a payment of £65.40 per week and a married couple with two children may qualify for a payment of £131.80 per week. Payment may continue indefinitely and may include all SWA elements including adult dependant allowance, child dependant allowance, rent supplements and other payments such as exceptional needs payments and clothing and footwear allowance. In addition, child benefit may be paid for each qualifying child. It is not possible for me to put a cost on the provision of services to asylum seekers. Such costs would be borne by a number of Departments — Education and Science, Environment and Local Government, Health and Social, Community and Family Affairs.