The direct provision system seeks to ensure that the accommodation and ancillary services provided by the State meet the requirements of asylum seekers during the period in which their requests for asylum are being processed. In addition, a direct provision allowance of €19.10 per adult and €9.60 per child was introduced several years ago and is paid by community welfare officers, operating under the aegis of the Department of Social and Family Affairs, who also have the discretion to make once-off exceptional needs payments in special situations. The direct provision allowance seeks to reflect the value of the above-mentioned services to the asylum seeker and I have no plans to alter the amount.
As indicated in replies to Questions Nos. 308 of 9 November 2004, 429 of 30 November 2004 and 779 of 26 January 2005, it is not proposed to allow asylum seekers to take up paid employment pending a final decision being made on their applications.