Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 9 Dec 1997

Vol. 484 No. 3

Written Answers. - Asylum Seekers.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

278 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 320 of 2 December 1997 if he will give details of the number of asylum seekers known to his Department who have availed of payment supplement and or other payments, benefits and allowances; the number of asylum seekers availing of these benefits in November 1991, November 1992, November 1993, November 1994, November 1995, November 1996 and November 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22156/97]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

Asylum seekers are not entitled to unemployment assistance or to benefits based on PRSI contributions. The main entitlement of asylum seekers is to supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) and in November 1997, some 2,400 were in receipt of SWA pyments. In addition, child benefit was paid to less than 200 families seeking asylum.

The information requested by the Deputy is not available in relation to earlier years.