Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

In the current economic climate there must be savings and we all accept that. However if the Minister wants to find money and resources to reinstate the language support service he could examine the long delays in processing asylum applications. Sweeping cuts that have taken place in the immigration service budget for the year 2009 will end up costing taxpayers more money because it will take even longer to process asylum claims. This is a false economy and will drive up the cost of processing asylum applications. It takes eight years to process an asylum application at a cost of approximately €1.4 million per applicant. Taxpayers already fork out €521.25 per asylum seeker on social welfare and accommodation per week. That does not include the costs related to the Department of Education and Science. The Minister could look closer to home. He has a Minister with responsibility for integration who has no budget.

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