Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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246. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if his Department’s Budget 2026 allocation has provided for an increase in the daily expense allowance for children in the international protection system, or any other financial measures to alleviate child poverty amongst children in the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56000/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Providing reception conditions, including accommodation and other basic supports, to international protection applicants is a requirement of Irish and EU law.

Under the EU reception conditions directive, IPAS residents and families are given access to housing, food, clothing and other necessities.

Depending on their accommodation placement, residents will have access to self-catering facilities, or will be provided with daily meals.

Supports are provided to people and families staying in IPAS centres to access community services in relation to their physical and mental health, educational opportunities and employment opportunities.

Residents in IPAS accommodation centres are entitled to a medical card and access GP services within the local community. Specialist health and social care services for families are accessed through primary care, GP referral, and emergency services.

In some larger IPAS Centres, in-reach medical or health care services may also be provided, through local arrangements with the health services in the area.

All children living in Ireland, including international protection applicants, are provided with access to education. When families become resident in an IPAS centre, the IPAS team connects them with local education services, the Tusla Education Support Service and REALT who assist with sourcing school places.

A Daily Expenses Allowance (DEA) is a weekly social welfare payment paid to asylum seekers by the Department of Social Protection. The maximum DEA weekly rate in 2025 is €38.80 for each adult and €29.80 for each child.

Details of the budget allocation for the Daily Expenses Allowance would be available from the Department of Social Protection who administer this service.

After six months, people who have applied for international protection are eligible to work if they have not received a first decision on their application.

In some cases, where a resident family is experiencing financial hardship, they may also be entitled to an Additional Needs Payment. Additional Needs Payments are paid under 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 (CWO) who makes a decision.

Implementing a child payment for children in the international protection process remains under consideration following the international protection reception function’s transition to the Department of Justice. Home Affairs, and Migration in May of this year.

This will be considered in the context of the development of a new International Protection Act, priorities under the new Programme for Government and the implementation of the new EU Pact on Migration.