Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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79. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the way in which persons in direct provision having been granted asylum status can communicate with his Department using their hostel address; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17841/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Protection seekers are offered accommodation under the system of direct provision operated by the Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) of the Department of Justice and Equality. Those who accept direct provision are provided with accommodation, food and health services together with other facilities and services designed to ensure their needs are met while seeking the protection of the State. My Department administers payment of the direct provision allowance to protection seekers residing in Direct Provision Centres on behalf of the Department of Justice & Equality.

Once a person has been granted status, they may apply for Department of Social Protection payments appropriate to their circumstances on the same basis as Irish citizens such as basic supplementary welfare allowance, jobseekers allowance or one-parent family payment and child benefit, subject to meeting the rules of the particular scheme. Payment under these schemes can be made to a person while they continue to remain resident in a Direct Provision centre prior to moving into the community.

People who have been granted protection and are seeking to establish eligibility for a social welfare payment should contact their local Department of Social Protection Intreo Centre for information. Further information is also available on the Department’s website (www.welfare.ie).

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.