Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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237. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the rates of daily expenses allowance for those who are in direct provision has been increased by €5 per week as part of the announcements of the increases in core social welfare rates for Budget 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51792/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, 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 Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth , are provided with full board accommodation and other facilities and services.

My department administers the daily expenses allowance which is paid to protection applicants who live in the direct provision system, on behalf of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

Daily Expenses Allowance is not an income support payment.  It is a weekly allowance made under the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018.  There has been no changes to the rate of this allowance as part of Budget 2022.

Any increases to the rate of daily expenses allowance would have to be approved by Government and considered in an overall budgetary context.