Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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142. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide the number of international protection applicants who received a clothing allowance for each year from 2021 to date; the total costs involved for each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6702/25]

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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145. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide the number of international protection applicants in receipt of a homeless daily expenses allowance for each year from 2021 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6755/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 145 together.

Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income or from other personal and household resources.

The statistical reporting for Additional Needs Payments was revised in 2022 and 2023, to extract more complete information, including identification of such payments to international protection applicants.

Statistics for Additional Needs Payments are prepared and published on a quarterly basis. Table 1 shows the annual expenditure under the clothing category to international protection applicants for 2022 to 2024. Figures for 2021 specifically relating to payments to international protection applicants are not available.

It should be noted that in addition, applicants for international protection can access the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance to assist with the cost of uniforms and footwear for children going to school. However, the department does not hold separate expenditure figures for international protection applicants in receipt of the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance.

My department also administers the Daily Expenses Allowance which is paid to international protection applicants who reside in, or are waiting for, accommodation provided by the International Protection Accommodation Services.

The current weekly rates of payment are €38.80 per adult and €29.80 per child. In December 2023 an increased rate of €113.80 per week for an adult was introduced where a person is unaccommodated and is on a waiting list for accommodation with the International Protection Accommodation Services. Table 2 shows the number of international protection applicants in receipt of the increased rate at the end of 2023 and 2024.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Table 1 - Annual expenditure under the clothing category for international protection applicants from 2022 to 2024.

Table 2 – Number of international protection applicants in receipt of the increased rate at the end of 2023 and 2024.

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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143. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide the number of international protection applicants who have qualified for the working family payment for each year from 2021 to date; the total costs involved for each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6703/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Working Family Payment (WFP) is a weekly in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. To qualify for Working Family Payment, the customer must have at least one qualified child who normally resides with them and be working a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight in ongoing insurable employment.

The Department does not keep a record of international protection applicants who are also in receipt of WFP therefore we are unable to provide the requested information.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.