Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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1110. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount paid annually through the daily expenses allowance since 2000, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3292/20]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Applicants for International Protection accommodated under the system of Direct Provision operated by the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) of the Department of Justice and Equality are provided with full board accommodation and other facilities/services.

The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection administers the daily expenses allowance (DEA) which is paid to protection applicants who live in the direct provision system.  The payment was previously known as direct provision allowance (DPA).

The Government has provided €13.1 million for the allowance in 2020.  The weekly rates of payment were increased in Budget 2019 from €21.60 per adult and per child to €38.80 per adult and to €29.80 per child.

The tabular statement provides details of expenditure on daily expenses allowance since 2009.  Expenditure figures for previous years are not available (as the allowance was accounted for as part of the basic supplementary welfare allowance scheme).

Tabular Statement - Expenditure on Daily Expenses Allowance, 2009 – 2020