Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 October 2015
184. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection given that the recent budget aimed to benefit children and families, why she did not increase the weekly living allowance for children in direct provision centres; the reason she did not see this as a budgetary matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36430/15]
View answer186. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the annual cost to her Department of increasing the living allowance for children living in direct provision centres by €5 per child per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36440/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 186 together.
The Government in its decision of the 30 June 2015 recommended that the Report of the Working Group on the Protection Process should in the first instance be the subject of detailed discussion at the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform. The Committee agreed that the Department of Justice and Equality should prepare a report for the Cabinet Committee, in conjunction with relevant Departments, on the practical implications of the Report's recommendations. Each Department has examined the recommendations to determine timescales for implementation and any impacts and issues that may arise. The Department of Justice and Equality is currently analysing the responses with a view to preparing a report for the Cabinet Committee.
The direct provision allowance is a non-statutory payment administered by the Department of Social Protection on behalf of the Department of Justice and Equality. The report recommended an increase in the rate of the direct provision allowance payment to both adults and children. The recommendation will be considered by the Cabinet Committee in due course.
There are currently approximately 1,160 children in respect of whom the direct provision allowance child rate is being paid. The annual cost of increasing the direct provision allowance payment by €5 for this number of children would be €301,600.
