Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Connolly. I understand the information she is looking for. I am here in my role with the Department of Social Protection. This Department's main role is administering the payment. I can state from my role in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth that funding has been secured for a new child payment. Beyond this there is not a large amount I can give in detail. I gave the context of the habitual residence condition because it was not the case in the past and it was possible to get child benefit. This means there is now a need for additional supports.

It is worth saying that the Department of Social Protection supports applicants for international protection through additional needs payments. Importantly, and not everyone is aware of this, there is also the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance. The Department also supports international protection applicants who take up employment. Permission may be sought by applicants from the Department of Justice to have access to the labour market after six months. Importantly, and not everyone knows this, applicants for international protection who are in employment have access to the working family payment and public employment services, and may qualify for benefit schemes linked to PRSI contributions if working for a sufficient period of time.

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