Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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1229. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the basis for calculating the daily expense allowance under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme for international protection applicants who are homeless; and his views on the adequacy of the payment given that it is a supplementary payment intended to give financial support when other basic needs are met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16882/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As of 17 April 2023, 517 people remain unaccommodated by IPAS. 373 people who were initially not accommodated have subsequently been accommodated as of 17 April. Offers of accommodation are made as soon as such accommodation is available, most recently last Wednesday.

The Government is aware of its obligations to provide material reception conditions to international protection applicants under the EU Recast Reception Conditions Directive (SI 230 of 2018). Material reception conditions include accommodation, 3 meals per day, utilities, a full medical card and the Daily Expenses Allowance (DEA) which is €38.80 per adult and €29.80 per child.

The DEA is paid to persons who are accommodated in designated International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation and those in Citywest transit hub.

My Department has recently liaised with the Department of Social Protection (DSP) to ensure payment of a payment equivalent to the DEA to IPAs who are currently without IPAS accommodation. DSP have confirmed payments will be backdated from the individual's arrival date.

If a person is not in IPAS accommodation but indicates they have a need for financial support when attending a local Intreo Centre, they can apply for an Additional Needs Payment (ANP) under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme. An ANP is reviewed by a Community Welfare Officer (CWO) who makes a decision based on the individual's circumstances. Applications are dealt with on a case by case basis.

Those who are not accommodated are also offered food vouchers to the value of €50 and given contact details for the Capuchin Day Centre.

My Department is currently working with a number of partners to expand the services provided to applicants who are not accommodated on arrival.

My Department is also continuing to make every effort to source accommodation for applicants. However, the sourcing of accommodation for single males in particular is extremely challenging at present.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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1230. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has heard reports of international protection applicants being denied the social welfare payments to which they are entitled. [16884/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I have not heard of reports of international protection applicants being denied the social welfare payments to which they are entitled.

I have asked Minister Humphreys for the Department of Social Protection to make arrangements for a payment similar to the Daily Expenses Allowance to be made to applicants who are currently not in receipt of IPAS accommodation. That Department has facilitated this request.

Since 23 January 2023, staff from the Department of Social Protection are also present in the IPO for the purposes of accepting applications for PPSNs. These arrangements apply to all applications from individuals applying for international protection, regardless of whether they have an address or not.

If a person is not in IPAS accommodation but indicates they have a need for financial support when they attend at an Intreo Centre to collect their PPSN, they can apply for an additional needs payment under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme.

Staff in Intreo Centres are aware of this and are available to assist with applications. While additional needs payments are issued in response to an existing need, this does not preclude any subsequent application where a person continues to require assistance.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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1231. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 536 of 28 March 2023, his plans to communicate to international protection applicants who are not in IPAS accommodation their entitlement to an additional needs payment under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. [16885/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Daily Expenses Allowance (DEA) is paid to international protection applicants who are accommodated in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation.

My Department has recently liaised with the Department of Social Protection (DSP) to ensure arrangements for the payment of a payment equivalent to the DEA to IPAs who are not accommodated by IPAS currently. This information is being provided to applicants when they make their application for international protection at the International Protection Office. Work is underway to identify further ways to communicate this information to applicants.

DSP have confirmed that payments will be backdated for the period from when individuals arrived in Ireland.

If a person is not in IPAS accommodation but indicates they have a need for financial support when they attend at an Intreo Centre to collect their PPSN, they can apply for an Additional Needs Payment under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme. Staff in Intreo Centres are aware of this and are available to assist with applications.

Should an IPA require additional support, they can apply for an Additional Needs Payment. These are paid under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance which is administered by the Community Welfare Service (CWS) of the Department of Social Protection. An Additional Needs Payment application is reviewed by a Community Welfare Officer (CMO) who makes a decision based on the individual's circumstances. Each application is dealt with on a case by case basis.