Claims that asylum seeker payments could double

The weekly allowance paid to asylum seekers could more than double under proposals being examined by the government-appointed expert working group on the protection process, it has been claimed.

As the State marks 15 years of the direct provision system today, UCD law lecturer Dr Liam Thornton, who is involved in the humanrights.ie website, said he believed a number of differently graded increases to the weekly allowance were now being considered.

Writing on humanrights.ie, he said he received documentation some weeks ago, which he said he had confirmed through different sources as information being considered by the working group on the protection process, chaired by retired High Court judge Bryan McMahon.

Currently, adult asylum seekers receive a weekly allowance of €19.10 and a child receives €9.60 a week.

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According to the proposals revealed by humanrights.ie, the working group was considering four proposals: a recommendation that the allowance be increased to €38.74 per week, with €29.80 per week per child, at an extra cost of €4.1m per year; that the payments increase to €38.74 per week for an adult and €19.20 per week for a child, at an extra cost of €3.2m per year; that €25.59 be given per week to adults and €12.86 a week be provided to children, which would cost an extra €1.1m per year; and finally, that the adult weekly allowance be raised to €22.35 per week, and the weekly child rate to €11.23 per week, costing an extra €555,620 per year.

The news comes after it emerged the working group — due to provide its report to government next month — is also considering a number of other measures, including that people in direct provision for more than five years can enter a ‘fast track’ review process, with the implication that they will receive a decision within six months and that their cases would be viewed sympathetically.

It is understood any such applicant would be required to abandon any legal challenges in the courts to the original decision turning down their asylum application.

Other proposals understood to be under consideration include allowing asylum seekers living in Ireland for more than five years greater access to third-level education, and the scrapping of prescription charges for medicines for those in DP.

Dr Liam Thornton said administrative practice surrounding DP in the past was “not fit for purpose” and increasing the weekly allowance to €38.74 per adult, with €29.80 per child, should be the minimum increase under consideration.

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