John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 494: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the annual cost per head of providing accommodation for asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5437/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In December 1999, when the direct provision system was first introduced, the rates paid to the providers of this full board accommodation ranged from €10,400 per person per annum to €17,888 per person per annum. Since then the reception and integration agency of my Department has negotiated significant reductions in the rates paid.

Currently, payments in the commercial sector for direct provision accommodation fall within the range €9,828 to €11,960 per person per annum. Payments for the provision of self-catering accommodation for asylum seekers fall within the range €6,952 to €7,644 per person per annum and the standard rate paid in respect of accommodation within State-owned centres falls within the range €4,353 to €7,036 per person per annum. This figure does not include maintenance at these sites. The number of applications for asylum in Ireland has fallen from a high of 11,634 in 2002 to 4,323 in 2005, a decrease of 63%.