Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 March 2022
536. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress made in addressing the recommendation in the report of the Advisory Group on the Provision of Support including Accommodation to Persons in the International Protection Process that the allowances currently paid to persons in direct provision should be increased from January 2021 and regularly reviewed in line with the cost of living. [11789/22]
View answerApplicants for International Protection accommodated under the system of direct provision, operated by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, are provided with full board accommodation and other facilities and services.
My Department administers the daily expenses allowance, which is paid to protection applicants who live in the direct provision system, on behalf of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
The Government has provided €10.8 million for the allowance in 2022. The current weekly rates of payment are €38.80 per adult and €29.80 per child. There are approximately 3,800 adults and 1,500 children residing in the system of direct provision in respect of whom daily expenses allowance is being paid.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is leading the implementation of the commitments contained in the White Paper to End Direct Provision, adopted by the Government in February 2021. Under the white paper a new International Protection Support Payment is to be introduced by that Department to support applicants for International Protection.
My Department is committed to supporting this process of change and my officials will continue to work with colleagues in Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth as we move to implement this new model.
Any increases to the rate of daily expenses allowance, pending the implementation of the White Paper to End Direct Provision, would have to be approved by Government and considered in an overall budgetary context.
