Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2005
301 Mr. O’Connor asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the funding provided by his Department to asylum seekers in 2004; his views on whether it is adequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18217/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of social welfare recipients' immigration status are not held on my Department's computer systems. Accordingly, it is not possible to quantify expenditure relating specifically to asylum seekers. However, my Department's records show that expenditure in 2004 under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme in cases where the head of household was a non-national was approximately €117 million, through basic supplementary welfare, rent supplement and exceptional needs payments. The cost of the payment of weekly allowances to asylum seekers in direct provision in 2004 was €800,000, which is included in the overall total of €117 million set out above.
The needs of asylum seekers are catered for under the direct provision system operated by the Reception and Integration Agency of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Through this service they are provided with accommodation and other facilities to meet their basic living requirements. An allowance of €19.10 per adult and €9.60 per child is payable weekly to people in direct provision facilities.
Following the introduction of the statutory habitual residency condition in May 2004, asylum seekers are generally not entitled to receive social welfare support. Since then, payment of this weekly direct provision allowance is being made on an administrative basis by Health Service Executive community welfare officers. This is an interim measure pending finalisation of arrangements by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to integrate payment of an allowance with its management of accommodation and related services for asylum seekers.
It continues to be open to any asylum seeker to seek assistance for a particular once-off need by way of an exceptional needs payment under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. A small number of asylum seekers are in receipt of other social welfare payments such as unemployment payments, one-parent family payments, pensions, disability allowance and child benefit. Details of the numbers and costs involved in these categories are not available.
Overall, I consider that payments to asylum seekers and their families are adequate, given the accommodation, food and other services available to them free of charge through direct provision facilities.
