Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 80: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he intends to address the gross inequality of treatment of asylum seekers in the context of direct provision; if he will increase the rate of direct provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5902/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The objective of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive, is to make up the difference between a person's means and his or her basic needs. Where a person has access to some resources in kind or in cash, through the social welfare system or otherwise, the relevant legislation requires that this be taken into account in determining the amount of assistance payable.

Asylum seekers who are catered for under the direct provision system operated by the Reception and Integration Agency of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform are provided with full board accommodation and other facilities such as laundry services and access to leisure areas. In addition, a direct provision allowance of €19.10 per adult and €9.60 per child is payable to an asylum seeker each week in respect of personal requisites.

In some cases, asylum seekers are accommodated by the Reception and Integration Agency in 'step down' facilities under the direct provision system. The criteria for assessment of such cases are the same as those applying to any other recipients including people who have been supplied with hostel type accommodation. If accommodation only is supplied, full rate supplementary welfare allowance is payable, less a standard deduction of €13 per week as the person's contribution in respect of the accommodation. If additional services are supplied free, for example, breakfast or other meals, the amount of allowance payable is reduced to take account of the level of additional service supplied in each individual case.

With effect from May 2004 basic supplementary welfare allowance is subject to a statutory habitual residence condition. Asylum seekers who arrived in Ireland after that date are unlikely to satisfy this condition and are not eligible for supplementary welfare allowance as a result. Pending systems being put in place by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to pay the direct provision allowance to those in direct provision and in 'step down' facilities, this allowance is currently being paid weekly by community welfare officers on an administrative basis as an interim measure.

In addition to the services and allowance available to them through direct provision, it is open to any asylum seeker to seek assistance for a particular once-off need by way of an exceptional needs payment through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.

The question of changing the rate of direct provision allowance would be a matter for consideration by my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, in the context of the value of the overall package of facilities available to asylum seekers in the direct provision system.