Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Sep 2003

Vol. 571 No. 1

Written Answers. - Asylum Support Services.

Finian McGrath

Question:

1340 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the exact amount of public money spent on asylum seekers, refugees and on staff for same; and the amount of finance given to business people and landlords providing services and housing for asylum seekers and refugees. [19691/03]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan)

Details of expenditure relating to the provision of services and accommodation in respect of asylum seekers who are being catered for under the direct provision system are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Details of expenditure relating to the provision of health and educational services are a matter for my colleagues, the Minister for Health and Children and the Minister for Education and Science, respectively.

A person who has been granted refugee status is entitled to assistance under the social welfare system on the same basis as Irish citizens. Details of social welfare recipients' immigration status are not held on all my Department's computer systems. Therefore, it is not possible to supply full details of social welfare expenditure on asylum seekers or refugees.

The income maintenance needs of asylum seekers are met for the most part through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme which is administered by health boards on behalf of my Department.

Asylum seekers, who are catered for under the direct provision system operated by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, are provided with full board accommodation and services such as laundry and leisure facilities. A reduced rate of €19.10 per adult and €9.60 per child is paid under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme in such cases.

Asylum seekers who arrived before 10 April 2000, and some who arrived since then, live outside the direct provision system. If they have no other means they may receive the full standard rate of supplementary welfare allowance. In addition, if they are in private rented accommodation they may qualify for a rent supplement to assist with their rental costs.

Departmental records show that expenditure under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme for 2002 was €113.23 million in cases where the head of household was a non-national. It is not possible to say how many of these were, specifically, asylum seekers or refugees. In addition, it is estimated that approximately €28 million in child benefit will be paid to asylum seekers this year.

With regard to the services provided for asylum seekers and refugees by my Department, either directly or indirectly via the health boards, a breakdown is not available of the portion of the administrative costs so incurred.