Ms Jackie Harrington:

It is correct. The policy is primarily the responsibility of the Department of Justice and Equality. The Department of Social Protection was represented on the working group and made a number of recommendations which included the proposed increase to the direct provision allowance. The Government agreed during the summer that, in the first instance, those recommendations would be subject to detailed discussion by the Cabinet committee on social policy. My understanding is that it will be considered by Government in due course through the Cabinet committee.