Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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412. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the total cost of discretionary payments made to asylum seekers in 2012, including the weekly cash allowance and exceptional needs payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26842/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The needs of asylum seekers are catered for under the direct provision system operated by the Reception and Integration Agency of the Department of Justice and Equality. Under the system asylum seekers are provided with full board accommodation and other facilities such as laundry services and access to leisure areas. To take account of the services provided, a direct provision allowance of €19.10 per adult per week and €9.60 per child per week is payable in respect of any personal requisites required. The payment of the weekly direct provision allowance is made on an administrative basis by this Department on behalf of the Department of Justice and Equality. Expenditure for weekly direct provision allowance in 2012 was some €4.5 million.

Following the introduction of the statutory habitual residence condition in May 2004 and subsequent legislation, asylum seekers are not entitled to receive most social welfare payments. It continues to be open to any asylum seeker to seek assistance for a particular once-off need by way of an exceptional needs payment (ENP) under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme as contained in Section 201 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. There is no automatic entitlement to an exceptional needs payment as each application is determined based on the particular circumstances of the case. Statistics are not available on the total cost of ENPs for asylum seekers.