Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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472. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of international protection applicants not offered accommodation by IPAS who have been issued any payment under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, exclusive of the daily expenses allowance or equivalent payment, to date in 2023, broken down by month; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23285/23]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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473. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of international protection applicants not offered accommodation by IPAS who have been granted the daily expenses allowance or equivalent payment, to date in 2023, broken down by month of application for the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23286/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 472 and 473 together.

The provision of material reception conditions, including food and health services, for applicants for International Protection who are awaiting a decision on their application is the responsibility of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) and the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS).

My department administers the Daily Expenses Allowance, which is paid to international protection applicants availing of material reception conditions, to meet incidental, personal expenses. This allowance is available to all applicants for international protection who are resident in, or waiting for IPAS accommodation. The current weekly rates of payment are €38.80 per adult and €29.80 per child. Statistics on the number of recipients are compiled on a quarterly basis. The figures in the enclosed Table 1 show the number of people in receipt of the daily expenses allowance at the end of 2022 and at the end of March 2023.

All applicants for international protection are eligible to apply for an additional needs payment under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme to help with essential expenses that they cannot meet from their own resources. Table 2 shows the number of additional needs payments made to applicants for international protection who are residing in, or waiting on an offer of, IPAS accommodation.

This department does not separately collate the number of daily expenses allowance claims awarded, or the number of additional needs payments that have been made, to international protection applicants who are waiting on an offer of accommodation from IPAS. The process of issuing accommodation offers is the responsibility of DCEDIY and IPAS.

Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to a payment under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme is encouraged to contact their local Intreo Centre. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.