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Gnáthamharc

Asylum Support Services.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 November 2004

Tuesday, 9 November 2004

Ceisteanna (191)

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

248 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he intends the gross inequality of treatment of asylum seekers in direct provision compared to others in hostel type accommodation; his views on whether the direct provision rate for an adult of €19.10, which has remained unchanged since 2002, should be increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28230/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The objective of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on my behalf by the health boards, is to make up the difference between a person's means and his or her basic needs. Where a person has access to some resources in kind or in cash, through the social welfare system or otherwise, the relevant legislation requires that this be taken into account in determining the amount of assistance payable.

Asylum seekers who are catered for under the direct provision system operated by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform are provided with full board accommodation and other facilities such as laundry services and access to leisure areas. In recognition of the level of services provided in these cases a reduced rate of supplementary welfare allowance, that is, €19.10 per adult and €9.60 per child, is payable in respect of personal requisites.

In some cases asylum seekers are accommodated in step down facilities under the direct provision system. The criteria for assessment of such cases are the same as those applying to any other recipients, including people who have been supplied with hostel type accommodation. If accommodation only is supplied full rate supplementary welfare allowance less a deduction of €13 in respect of the accommodation is payable. If additional services are supplied, for example, breakfast or other meals, the amount of allowance payable is reduced to take account of the level of additional service supplied in each individual case.

With effect from May 2004 basic supplementary welfare allowance is subject to a habitual residence condition. Newly arrived asylum seekers are unlikely to satisfy this condition and are instead paid a direct provision allowance, equivalent to the relevant supplementary welfare allowance rate. Payment of this allowance is currently being made on an administrative basis through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, as an interim measure, pending arrangements being put in place by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform who will assume responsibility for direct provision allowance and in step down facilities with an similar agreement in place with the Department of Health and Children for that Department to take over responsibility for payments to unaccompanied minors.

The structure and rate of the direct provision payment is designed to give equality in the treatment of asylum seekers in direct provision compared to others in hostel type accommodation. Wherever there is a shortfall in the level of a person's means, assistance in the form a basic allowance may be paid to bring the person up to the appropriate supplementary welfare allowance rate.

Any increase in the rates of the weekly allowance paid to asylum seekers in direct provision would have to be considered in a budgetary context.

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