Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 May 2023
594. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the attempts made to contact applicants for international protection who were not offered accommodation by IPAS between 24 January and 28 March 2023 to notify them of their entitlement to the daily expenses allowance equivalent payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23162/23]
View answerAs of 12th May there were 507 International Protection applicants (IPAs) that the Department has been temporarily unable to offer accommodation to. Since January 24th, a total of 628 people who were previously unaccommodated have subsequently been offered accommodation.
IPAS is now issuing unaccommodated people with weekly €50 euro vouchers. They are also entitled to a Daily Expenses Allowance (DEA) of €38.80 per week and this has been backdated to the point at which they applied for international protection. The Department of Social Protection (DSP) administer the DEA payment on behalf of DCEDIY to IPAs and are responsible for contacting those recipients in relation to their payment. IPAs can also apply for an exceptional needs payment from the DSP if required on a case by case basis.
All communications regarding the above issues are made through the communications channel provided on the day of presentation. In the main this will be either mobile phone and/or e-mail. Additionally, information is provided in hard copy on the day of presentation.
Information has also been shared with Crosscare, Mendicity, the Irish Refugee Council and the Capuchin Day Centre with regard to the entitlements available to unaccommodated persons. They are sharing this information with those who present to their services.
