Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 September 2021
417. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason Irish-born children of mothers who are seeking international protection are prohibited from access to any social protection benefits in Ireland. [45250/21]
View answerMy Department provides a number of supports which are available to applicants for international protection. The Daily Expenses Allowance is payable to all international protection seekers who reside in direct provision accommodation. It is payable at the rate of €38.80 per adult and €29.80 per child. Where an international protection applicant has the right to access and labour market and is working, they may establish entitlement to certain Social Welfare payments such as Jobseeker's Benefit and Illness Benefit. People in that position who lost their work due to the pandemic will have received the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. People in the international protection system may also qualify for Urgent Needs or Exceptional Needs Payments under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme.
Child Benefit is payable to a qualified person with whom a qualified child normally resides; the child will not be regarded as normally residing with more than one person. In order to be a qualified person for the purposes of the scheme a person must be habitually resident in the State. Legislation provides that a person who is seeking international protection is not habitually resident for the purposes of the Social Welfare Act 2005 (as amended). Whether the child was born in Ireland or elsewhere is not a determining factor.
I am satisfied that my Department has appropriate measures in place to decide the basis upon which social welfare benefits are payable, including in cases where an individual's status has not yet been determined.
