Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
2432. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full year cost of a 50% increase in payments made to those are resident in direct provision. [33684/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2433. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full year cost of doubling the payments made to those that are resident in direct provision. [33738/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2434. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the weekly allowance for asylum seekers living in direct provision to €38.74 for adults and €29.80 for children in line with the recommendations of the McMahon report. [33763/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2432 to 2434, inclusive, together.
Ireland has opted in to the EU (recast) Reception Conditions Directive with effect from 30 June 2018. As a result, direct provision allowance is being renamed daily expenses allowance. The Government has provided over €5.6 million for the allowance in 2018. This payment is administered by my Department on behalf of the Department of Justice and Equality and is paid to applicants for international protection who live in the direct provision system where they are provided with full board accommodation and other facilities/services.
The allowance is currently paid at the rate of €21.60 per week per adult and child. There are approximately 3,700 adults and 1,560 children residing in the system of direct provision in respect of whom the allowance is being paid.
The additional full-year cost, based on the current numbers, of increasing the weekly rate by 50% to €32.40 per week would cost some €2.95 million.
The additional full-year cost, based on the current numbers, of doubling the weekly rate to €43.20 per week would cost some €5.91 million.
The additional full-year cost, based on the current numbers, of increasing the weekly rate to €38.74 per week for adults and to €29.80 for children, in line with the recommendations of the McMahon Report on Improvement to the Protection Process, would cost some €3.96 million.
Any increases to the rate of this allowance would have to be approved by Government and considered in a budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
