Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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1466. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the allowance for adults in direct provision from €21.60 per week to €22, €23, €24 and €25, respectively, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16473/18]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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1467. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the allowance for children in direct provision from €21.60 to €22, €23, €24 and €25, respectively, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16474/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 1466 and 1467 together.

The direct provision allowance is a non-statutory payment administered by my Department on behalf of the Department of Justice and Equality to persons in the direct provision system. The Government has provided over €5.6 million for the allowance in 2018.

There are approximately 3,700 adults and 1,600 children residing in the system of direct provision in respect of whom the direct provision allowance is being paid. The full-year costs, based on the current numbers, of increasing the weekly adult rate and the weekly child rate from €21.60 to €22, €23, €24 and €25 is provided in the tabular statement.

Any increases to the rate of direct provision allowance would have to be approved by Government and considered in a budgetary context.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Adult Rate Direct Provision Allowance and full-year cost of rate increase.

Child Rate Direct Provision Allowance and full-year cost of rate increase.