Vol. 533 No. 3
271 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will consider increasing the amount of allowance given to asylum seekers and refugees under direct provision to cover the cost of contacting Departments here and in their home country relative to their application or appeal to the Department for status; and, if not, if some communication facility can be made available in each location to assist the process. [8676/01]
Direct provision is the means by which the State discharges its obligations under international law and the Constitution to provide for the basic requirements of asylum seekers. For the most part, it represents a cashless system with the State assuming responsibility for providing suitable accommodation on a full board basis.
Asylum seekers in direct provision are generally paid reduced allowances under the supplementary welfare allowances scheme, which is administered by the health boards on behalf of the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs. Every applicant for supplementary welfare allowance is subject to a means test, which includes provision for the assessment of any benefit and privilege, including board and lodgings, enjoyed by the applicant. The rates of payment for asylum seekers in direct provision – £15 per adult and £7.50 per child – are currently under review by a working group which was established by the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs to examine certain issues related to the assessment of need for SWA purposes.
