Ms Jackie Harrington:

No, we do not. Not that I am aware of anyway, but I do not think that to be the case.

I am aware that there has been a lot of media interest and commentary on exceptional needs payments over recent days. Exceptional needs payments are a demand-led scheme. The provision this year is approximately €27.9 million. Of that sum, we have paid more than €1 million to persons in direct provision. This year, to date, we have paid in the region of €80,000 in exceptional needs payments of which more than €13,000 has been to persons in direct provision. This represents approximately 16% to 18% of the total. Payments to persons in direct provision are primarily made in respect of clothing and travel costs. Travel costs constitute the greatest proportion. Of the payments made so far to date, 57% of them are in respect of travel costs. An asylum seeker may have to attend in Dublin for legal, medical or other appointments. Some 35% of the payments relates to clothing. Those are the main payments we make under the exceptional needs payments.