Vol. 528 No. 2
172 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the feedback he has received from officers administering the supplementary welfare allowance scheme with regard to claims by illegal immigrants for benefit; the cost of payments to illegal immigrants in 2000 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29866/00]
The Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme is administered on my behalf by the health boards. Under the SWA scheme, health boards can provide a basic weekly payment to eligible people who are resident in the State and who have little or no income. An assessment of a person's means and needs is carried out and where there is a shortfall in a person's income a payment may be made to bring that person's income up to the appropriate supplementary welfare allowance rate.
The question of whether any person has a legitimate right and entitlement to reside in Ireland is a matter for the immigration authorities and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Details of claimants' immigration status are not required or recorded in connection with any claims they may make for supplementary welfare allowance and, accordingly, officials administering the scheme have not provided any particular feedback in that regard.
Similarly, the total cost in 2000 of payments made to people who are found in due course to be illegal immigrants is not available and the question of illegal immigration does not arise in connection with claims for supplementary welfare allowance.
