Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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1370. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding how additional payments for children resident in IPAS accommodation are allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21079/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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1475. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding any allowances payable to people resident in IPAS accommodation; the average and median amount paid to residents on a weekly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21078/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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1476. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding the total cost of the daily expense allowance, paid to all those that live in or are on a waiting list to move into IPAS accommodation, by year, in tabular form;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21080/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1370, 1475 and 1476 together.

My Department administers the Daily Expenses Allowance on behalf of the Department of Children, Equality and Disability. Under the new Programme for Government, responsibility for international protection accommodation and integration is planned to move to the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.

The Daily Expenses Allowance is paid to International Protection applicants who live in or are on a waiting list to move into 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.

Since June 2024, an income assessment is in effect for Daily Expenses Allowance recipients over 18 years of age, where the recipient has income for a total of 12 weeks or more. For couples or families, the Daily Expenses Allowance payment for the person who has income may be reduced or withdrawn. This will not affect any payments other family members are getting, including children.

Table 1 shows the shows the annual expenditure for Daily Expenses Allowance for the years 2019 -2024.

Data on average and median amounts paid to recipients on a weekly basis is not collated; however, there were 12,900 recipients at the end of 2024 in respect of approximately 14,200 adults and 6,600 children, at a total annual cost of €60.2 million.

It should also be noted that 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. 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.

It should be noted that 2024 expenditure includes the higher rate of payment to support International Protection Applicants who were unaccommodated and on a waiting list for International Protection Accommodation Services which was introduced in December 2023. The 2024 figure also includes expenditure in respect of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection residing in designated State services accommodation, totaling €9.8m.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Table 1- Annual expenditure for Daily Expenses Allowance and number of persons supported from 2019-2024